Forged Hamas documents being used to influence public opinion in Israel

The Israeli army is conducting an internal investigation after forged documents claimed to have been retrieved from the Gaza Strip were leaked to foreign media in a bid to shape public opinion on captive negotiations, the Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported. 

Over the weekend, the German newspaper Bild reported that a Hamas document found on the computer of leader Yahya Sinwar outlined the group's tactics to pressure Israel and delay hostage talks.

The document’s contents, which reportedly claimed that Hamas aims to create divisions within Israeli society and is not in a hurry to reach a deal, closely mirrored points made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent interviews and press conferences.

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that an internal investigation to identify those who are potentially manipulating classified Hamas documents, seized in Gaza or allegedly obtained from Hamas, and leaking them to international media to sway Israeli public opinion regarding a captive deal.

According to the paper this matter has sparked significant concern and anger within the Israeli security establishment and is expected to further escalate tensions between the establishment and the country's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his associates, tensions that were already at a peak due to deep disagreements over the deal.