The Israeli authorities are investigating an aide to the prime minister over the leak of classified documents relating to Gaza

An Israeli magistrate has ruled to partially unseal a leak of classified documents from the Gaza Strip involving an aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The incident has not only shocked Israeli politics, but also angered the families of hostages held by Hamas.

In a ruling announced Sunday, the Rishon Le-Zion District Court said classified and sensitive intelligence information was stolen from IDF systems and illegally taken away, which may have seriously damaged national security and posed a risk to the source of the information.

The ruling also said the information leaks could harm efforts to free the hostages.

Until now, there had been little information about the incident because of a gag order. But initial details of the incident emerged after magistrates in Rishon Lezion ruled that the leak had compromised security sources and could harm Israel's efforts to secure the hostages' release.

Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing by members of his office, saying in a statement Tuesday that he only learned of the leak through the media.

Four people were involved in the incident, including a spokesman for Netanyahu's inner circle and three other members of the security services. Reuters was unable to contact the four for comment.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said the German newspaper Bild published details of the leaked documents on September 6. Ha 'aretz is one of the Israeli media outlets that has appealed to the court to lift the order in the classified documents case.

The document, marked as exclusive, Outlines Hamas' negotiating strategy. At the same time, the United States, Qatar and Egypt are mediating cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas, including the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, but the talks have stalled amid mutual accusations.