Bennett says he understands 'severity of matter,' Israel Police chief calls for external probe, and wide range of lawmakers demand investigation over police hacking allegations

Latest allegations point to cops reveling in their technological capacity to gather endless data on anyone they please; powerful, independent investigation is urgently needed

Calcalist reports that protest leaders, journalists, mayors, Avner Netanyahu and a range of figures connected to former PM's corruption trial were spied on using Pegasus

State's witness Shlomo Filber reportedly had data illicitly siphoned off device; conversation transcript shows Securities Authority indicated to Filber phone may have been hacked

One report says spyware 'apparently' also used on phone of fellow defendant Shaul Elovitch; court has given prosecutors until Tuesday to provide answers

Jerusalem District Court says trial can proceed after reports investigators drained data from key witness's phone without approval

Police reportedly claim draining of Shlomo Filber’s phone data was an accident, data never given to investigators; PM's lawyers demand answers ahead of Filber's imminent testimony

Quadream's REIGN spyware said to have used same exploit as NSO Group's Pegasus, before being patched in September; clients also include Saudi Arabia

Defense lawyers updated on situation; police alleged to have used spyware to hack into phone of longtime confidant of former prime minister in ongoing cases

In a statement to the Guardian, the US intelligence agency says it bought a license from NSO Group for 'product testing and evaluation only' and not 'operational use'