Documents attributed to Hamas by Jewish Chronicle, Bild forged: Ynet
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The Yedioth Ahronoth news website cites Israeli military officials as saying that the falsified documents were leaked as part of a campaign to manipulate public opinion in "Israel".
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Israeli soldiers cross the Philadelphi Corridor on their way to a nearby Israeli military outpost in the southern Gaza Strip, near the Egyptian border, Sunday, Aug.15, 2004. (AP)
Documents allegedly leaked from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's computer, which appeared to outline plans for transferring Israeli captives out of Gaza, were forged, the Israeli news website Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
The outlet cited Israeli military officials as saying that the documents were leaked as part of a campaign to manipulate public opinion by suggesting that the Hamas movement and Sinwar were disinterested in reaching a ceasefire agreement.
The UK's Jewish Chronicle and Germany's Bild both utilized the forged documents in their reporting.
The Jewish Chronicle alleged that these documents, reportedly seized by the Israeli military on August 29, detailed a plan to smuggle captives from Gaza to Egypt via the tunnels under the Philadelphi Corridor, eventually transferring them to Iran. It further claimed that Sinwar was behind the plot and had plans for his own escape.
Yedioth Ahronoth, however, clarified that the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate had no knowledge of the documents referenced by the Jewish Chronicle.
“Neither the document, nor the narrative attributed to Sinwar, who suddenly decided to escape, are known to anyone in Israel,” the news website quoted military sources as saying.
Bild reported on a document allegedly presented by a mid-ranking Hamas official, but Yedioth Ahronoth asserts that while the document itself exists, the quote used by the German outlet, which purportedly indicates Hamas' lack of interest in a deal with "Israel", was fabricated.
Both reports follow statements made by Netanyahu last week, where he reaffirmed that the Israeli military would not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, adding that such a move would enable Hamas to transfer captives out of the Gaza Strip.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, these falsified documents have caused "great concern and anger in the security establishment, and it is assumed that it will heighten the tensions between them and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his men."
A significant point of contention has been Netanyahu's demand for Israeli military control over the Philadelphi Corridor at the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
The Philadelphi Corridor includes the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which is crucial for aid delivery. It extends 12.6 kilometers from the Karem Abu Salem crossing to the Mediterranean Sea.
The Israeli Prime Minister claims the Corridor is crucial for Hamas' operations and insists on maintaining a military presence there as part of any agreement.
But Israeli media reported on Sunday, citing sources within the Israeli occupation military, that there is no active tunnel belonging to the Palestinian Resistance in the Corridor.
Security and military commentator for the Israeli Channel 12, Amir Bar-Shalom, revealed that the Israeli military "says it can afford to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor."
He further mentioned that he consulted multiple military sources, asking them, "Is there an active (Resistance) tunnel in the Philadelphi Corridor?" The consistent response was, "No."
A high-ranking leader within the Palestinian Resistance confirmed to Al Mayadeen on Friday that the Philadelphi Corridor remains the key obstacle in achieving both a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and a prisoner exchange deal.
The leader added that the Israeli occupation is adamant about not withdrawing from the Corridor during the first phase of the agreement, intending to postpone the withdrawal to the second phase.
He also noted that Hamas informed mediators of its categorical rejection of allowing occupation forces to remain in the area during the initial 42 days of the agreement.
