Netanyahu torpedoed the hostage deal - new scandal in the US

Former US Deputy National Security Advisor Phil Gordon stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu torpedoed the hostage release deal in the summer of 2024 by adding new conditions and ignoring the recommendations of security services. According to him, this halted negotiations for six months, during which thousands of people and six hostages died.

Former US Deputy National Security Advisor Phil Gordon criticized the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the ceasefire negotiations in the summer of 2024. Gordon confirmed the testimony of former military secretary to the head of the Israeli government, Avi Gil, that the Israeli leadership did not seize the chance to secure the release of hostages alive. According to Gordon, in early July 2024, US President Joe Biden personally urged Netanyahu to agree to a deal after Hamas dropped its main demand for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. However, instead of approving the agreement, the Israeli prime minister added new conditions, ignoring the recommendations of the heads of Israeli security services. These included maintaining a military presence along the Gaza-Egypt border and implementing checks on Palestinians returning to the northern part of the enclave. In Gordon's view, including these demands effectively stalled negotiations for another six months. During this time, fighting continued, resulting in thousands of deaths, as well as prisoners, including six hostages killed by militants in August 2024. Both disputed points were ultimately removed from the agreement that the parties reached in January 2025. The Likud party rejected these statements, viewing the former officials' remarks as a politically motivated campaign against the head of government.