Israel's Netanyahu testifies in Qatargate probe, slams 'political witch hunt'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said that he had testified in a probe involving alleged payments from Qatar to one of his aides, slamming the investigation as politically motivated and denouncing the arrest of two of his aides.

“As soon as I was asked to testify, I said that I was free and that I wanted to testify immediately,” AFP quoted Netanyahu as saying in a video statement.

“I understood that it was a political investigation but I didn’t realise how political it was, and they are holding Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein hostage… There is no case, there is absolutely nothing, just a political witch hunt, nothing else,” he added.

Israeli media have identified the two men arrested as Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, both aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, allegedly linked to the so-called “Qatargate,” which involves claims of payments from Qatar to one of Netanyahu’s aides.

These arrests have heightened political tensions in Israel, where the government is attempting to dismiss both the domestic security chief and the attorney general while increasing political influence over judicial appointments.

This has reignited protests across the country, coinciding with the government’s renewed military actions in the Gaza Strip this month.

Feldstein had previously been arrested late last year and placed under house arrest on allegations of leaking a classified document related to hostage negotiations in Gaza to manipulate media coverage of Netanyahu.

Media reports on Monday indicated that Netanyahu testified regarding the Qatargate case, although he was described as a knowledgeable witness rather than a suspect.

Netanyahu is also currently on trial facing corruption charges, which he denies.

“Following an investigation being conducted by the National Unit for International Investigations (YAHBAL)… two suspects were arrested today for questioning,” the police said in a statement, noting that the case remains under a court-imposed gag order.

With inputs from agencies