Netanyahu Authorized Direct Secret Talks With Hamas During 2025 Hostage Negotiations

Israel's Channel 13 revealed that in 2025, during negotiations over a hostage exchange, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized official Israeli representatives to maintain direct secret communications with Hamas. This covert channel, active ahead of the second phase of the hostage release in January 2025, reportedly helped resolve key disputes in the deal. The Prime Minister's Office denied these claims, calling them "absolute lies" and stating Netanyahu refused to negotiate directly with Hamas, insisting talks were conducted only through mediators.

This disclosure follows earlier reports by journalist Ben Caspit that Netanyahu had also engaged in direct secret talks with Hamas during the 2014 Gaza conflict (Operation Protective Edge), bypassing the Israeli security establishment. At that time, businessman Shlomi Fogel, reportedly acting under Netanyahu's guidance and with National Security Council chief Yossi Cohen shaping messages, communicated directly with senior Hamas official Razi Hamad in Gaza. These talks occurred alongside official negotiations led by Israel's security chiefs through Egyptian mediators, who were unaware of Netanyahu's backchannel.

Fogel denied ever being sent by Netanyahu or the National Security Council to negotiate with Hamas, calling the reports fake news. Meanwhile, Knesset member Yulia Malinovsky revealed she had filed a complaint in 2024 against Fogel for suspected contacts with Hamas, linking him to Hamas funding sources and business dealings in Gaza. She accused the security agencies of failing to investigate due to his close ties to Netanyahu.

Opposition leader Gadi Eizenkot criticized Netanyahu's handling of the conflict and the secret negotiations, accusing him of undermining the security establishment and promoting a policy of appeasement. Eizenkot also condemned Netanyahu's advisors for spreading misinformation during Israel's recent national crisis and warned that their conduct risks leading to further disasters.

The revelations raise serious questions about Netanyahu's management of security affairs and the transparency of Israel's dealings with Hamas, highlighting tensions between political leadership and the security apparatus.