Gaza: Israel’s domestic spy chief, Ronen Bar, has publicly accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to dismiss him for refusing to carry out illegal orders designed to protect Netanyahu’s political and personal interests.
The claim was revealed in an affidavit Bar submitted to Israel’s Supreme Court on April 22, 2025. Bar stated that between November 2024 and February 2025, Netanyahu repeatedly urged Shin Bet to act against Israeli citizens who were organizing or funding anti-government protests. Bar also said he rejected a request to use security powers to exempt Netanyahu from testifying in an ongoing corruption trial involving charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
The attempted dismissal was announced last month, allegedly due to a loss of trust tied to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. However, critics argue the real reason lies in Bar’s refusal to comply with politically motivated demands and Shin Bet’s investigation into financial ties between Netanyahu’s office and Qatar, a key player in the Gaza war negotiations. This internal conflict erupted publicly, sparking mass protests across Israel, with demonstrators warning of a threat to democracy.
Shin Bet is also conducting a sensitive probe into whether Netanyahu’s administration ignored early warnings about Hamas’s planned assault, which killed more than 1,100 Israelis and resulted in 250 captives. Over 50 hostages remain in Gaza, and Netanyahu has been under increasing pressure for failing to secure their release. Israel’s war on Gaza, in response to the attack, has reportedly resulted in over 51,000 deaths, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
Netanyahu’s office responded by calling Bar’s claims lies and asserting that Bar failed in his duties during the Hamas attack. They denied the firing was linked to the Qatar investigation, instead implying the investigation was being used to block the dismissal. The Supreme Court has since suspended Netanyahu’s move to remove Bar, following objections from political watchdogs and opposition lawmakers who called the firing unlawful.
Bar, acknowledging Shin Bet’s failure to prevent the October 7 attack, announced that he will soon step down. The standoff underscores the intensifying political crisis in Israel, where the prime minister’s leadership, legal troubles, and handling of national security have triggered widespread unrest.
