Major Scandal
Anger in Israel: US Displayed Sensitive Info at Kiryat Gat HQ
During a sensitive briefing at a U.S. military headquarters, representatives from Arab countries were exposed to live footage of IDF troops operating in Gaza. A senior Israeli officer demanded the immediate removal of the footage, which had been obtained outside the scope of authorized procedures.
An unusual and troubling incident was revealed at a U.S. military headquarters in Kiryat Gat. During a routine morning briefing, live video of IDF combat units operating inside the Gaza Strip was displayed on screens in the room. In attendance, alongside American officers, were intelligence representatives from several Arab countries, including Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
According to accounts published by ynet, the footage was captured using a remotely piloted aircraft operated by U.S. forces. Once the images were identified on the screens, a senior Israeli officer present at the briefing demanded that his American counterparts immediately remove the sensitive material from view.
A preliminary review indicates that the footage was obtained through a clear breach of authority and in violation of prior understandings and agreements between the IDF and U.S. forces operating in the area. The exposure has raised serious concern in Israel, as it involved highly sensitive operational information being shown to representatives of foreign states, even if those states maintain peace agreements with Israel.
Israeli defense officials and the IDF are now reviewing the incident with their American counterparts to determine how the deviation from established protocols occurred and to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again in the future.