Hamas tunnels discovered by the IDF during the 2014 conflict have become the subject of an intense political confrontation in Jerusalem as details of a draft of the State Comptroller’s report have leaked to the media.

The report was distributed last week to ministers and senior officers for their response. According to Haaretz, which first published the details, State Comptroller Yosef Shapira blames the IDF for not correctly addressing the tunnels threat before the fighting broke out.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon are also criticised for not sharing full details of the threat with the security cabinet.

It is unclear whether the final report, once those mentioned in it have had the opportunity to respond, will have any political or legal implications, but sources close to Mr Netanyahu were quick to attack the Comptroller for being “politically-motivated” and accuse the prime minister’s political rivals and former cabinet colleagues - Avigdor Lieberman, Yair Lapid and Tzipi Livni - of leaking the report. All three have strenuously denied these accusations.