Netanyahu slams ‘Qatar-Gate’ probe as a political attack after two close aides are arrested

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fiercely condemned the arrest of two of his close associates in a corruption probe linked to Qatar, calling the investigation a politically motivated “witch hunt.”

The case, dubbed Qatar-Gate, has sent shockwaves through Israel’s political sphere, with police suspecting that the two detained men—adviser Yonatan Urich and former spokesman Eli Feldstein—received payments from the Gulf state to influence public messaging in Israel. Both men deny any wrongdoing.

Police arrested the pair on Monday, citing allegations of money laundering, bribery, and contact with a foreign agent. On Tuesday, a judge extended their detention by three days, stating that “reasonable suspicions” warranted further investigation. Netanyahu, who is not currently a suspect, has fiercely criticised the case, accusing authorities of holding his aides “as hostages” and insisting that “there is no case.”

The scandal comes as Netanyahu battles a storm of domestic unrest. Public outrage is mounting over his handling of the war in Gaza, his controversial attempt to fire Israel’s Shin Bet security chief, and his judicial overhaul push.

Adding to the controversy, Israeli media recently aired a recording of an Israeli businessman allegedly admitting to transferring funds to Feldstein on behalf of a US lobbyist working for Qatar. According to police, Urich helped set up financial links between the lobbyist and Feldstein to push pro-Qatar messaging in Israel, including negative coverage of Egypt’s mediation efforts in the Gaza conflict.

Authorities also suspect that Urich funnelled messages from a Qatar-linked source to journalists, disguising them as information from high-ranking Israeli officials. His legal team, which includes Netanyahu’s own defence lawyer, has vowed to fight the case and has successfully petitioned to lift a court-imposed gag order.

Meanwhile, Qatar has dismissed the allegations as a “smear campaign” designed to derail its role as a mediator in the Gaza war. The Gulf state, which has long supported the Palestinian cause and housed Hamas leaders, has provided millions in aid to Gaza with Israeli approval, though critics argue the funds have helped Hamas stay in power.

Netanyahu claims the investigation is a plot to prevent his dismissal of Shin Bet director Ronen Bar and to topple his right-wing government. Bar was sacked last month over security failures linked to Hamas’s 7 October attack but remains in his role pending a Supreme Court hearing.

Amid the scandal, Netanyahu has also reversed his decision to appoint former navy commander Vice Adm Eli Sharvit as Shin Bet chief following backlash from Likud figures and criticism from US Senator Lindsey Graham.

As the legal battle intensifies, Israel remains gripped by uncertainty. With high-profile arrests, explosive accusations, and deep political divisions, the Qatar-Gate scandal is far from over.