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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of leaking information from cabinet meetings to the media, leading to a verbal confrontation, Israeli state television KAN reported Friday.
The argument occurred during a cabinet session discussing a planned visit by an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation to Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu, reportedly angered, stood up and told Ben-Gvir, “I have seen reports in Arutz Sheva, Israel Hayom, and elsewhere about who supported and opposed the Red Cross visit before and during the cabinet meeting.”
Netanyahu later removed the Red Cross visit vote from the agenda to discuss it in a separate session.
Ben-Gvir responded to the allegations, saying, “You talk about me leaking to the press? You leak against the army, and the army leaks against you all week long.”
The meeting also included Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and ultra-Orthodox lawmaker Aryeh Deri.
Israel continues its detention operations against Palestinians, including administrative detention, which allows authorities to hold individuals from one month to six months without charge.
Military courts can extend detention up to five years without disclosing charges if the prisoner is deemed a threat to Israel’s security.
Since Oct. 7, Israeli forces have accelerated arrests, detaining tens of thousands of Palestinians. Reports indicate increasing use of harsh treatment and torture in prisons. Ben-Gvir has previously called for Palestinian prisoners to be killed by shooting to the head.
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