Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times over a column that alleged abuse of Palestinian prisoners by Israeli military forces.

A statement released by Israel's Foreign Ministry on Thursday confirmed the lawsuit. The legal action targets a column by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof that reported allegations involving the mistreatment of Palestinian detainees.

The report has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli officials and some U.S. lawmakers. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., condemned the Times' coverage and suggested the newspaper was promoting Hamas propaganda through its reporting on the allegations.

The Israeli government has disputed the claims made in the Times column and characterizes the reporting as defamatory. The lawsuit represents an escalation in tensions between Israeli leadership and international media coverage of the ongoing conflict.

The defamation case comes amid broader scrutiny of detention conditions and treatment of Palestinian prisoners during the current war in Gaza. The Times has not immediately responded publicly to the lawsuit announcement.