Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security has expressed serious concerns after it was revealed that a resident staying in a nearby hotel secretly photographed him for hours during his New York visit.
According to reports in Israeli media, Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, was standing by a window with no protection or defence against any potential gunfire.
A testimony from the cameraman, carried by Israeli media, stated that he saw Netanyahu holding discussions and speaking with guests through the window, noting that the shutters were open and the windows did not appear to be bulletproof.
The individual, who has not been named in Israeli media, said that he was photographing Netanyahu for several hours.
An expert quoted in Israeli media also said that according to security guidelines, the blinds of the room where Netanyahu was staying should always be closed to protect him, adding that guidelines were not followed.
Further reports in Israeli media said that in the past, Netanyahu has taken it upon himself to raise the blinds in the room where he is staying, or requested that someone else do so, however, in this case it was unclear who was responsible for the move.
Colonel Ronen Cohen, who served in the directorate of military intelligence and was the head of the air force’s special operations, said: "The photo was taken by a civilian living in an adjacent building directly across from the hotel. Without protected windows, closed shutters and a sealed and protected interior to the room, the Prime Minister sat day and night while being exposed to sniper fire and even mortar fire".
"Less than three weeks after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, in a country where there have already been attempts to assassinate President Trump and with the severe incitement against the Prime Minister everywhere – I am very concerned," he added.
The incident has raised serious concerns among officials about how security protocols are implemented when Netanyahu is on visits abroad, particularly amid the growing international outrage over his pursuit of the genocidal war on Gaza.
In a statement, the Israeli Shin Bet security services said: "Many operations are being carried out to ensure the security of the Prime Minister in cooperation of the Shin Bet and the American Secret Service…overt and covert security operations are being conducted, as well as additional operations to maintain his safety. We would like to clarify that at no point was the Prime Minister in danger."
The photograph of Netanyahu comes while he was visiting the White House to discuss Trump’s proposal to end the war on Gaza.
The proposed deal, which Israel and the US say is non-negotiable, has garnered a mixed response from Palestinians and their supporters, who want the war to end but have expressed that the terms favour Israeli interests.
The plan has even divided Israeli society, with relatives of the captives held in Gaza commending it, while far-right ministers have branded it a "failure".
Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has killed over 66,000 Palestinians since October 2023 and plunged the Strip into a deep humanitarian crisis. The war has levelled entire neighbourhoods, caused a famine and displaced virtually all of the population.