Blinken Denies Report on October 7 Hostage Mediation Delay

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has refuted claims made in an Israeli newspaper report suggesting he delayed mediation efforts for the release of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The Haaretz newspaper's investigation alleged that Blinken told the Qatari Prime Minister not to rush mediation on Hamas's offer to release civilian hostages on the day of the attack.

According to the report, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani contacted Blinken on the evening of October 7, informing him of hundreds of hostages, including dozens of civilians, held in Gaza. Al Thani reportedly offered immediate mediation for their release, but the Israeli side showed no interest. Haaretz cited Blinken as responding, "Let's wait," and stating he would contact Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally, adding that Israel was still under attack and there was no one to negotiate with, so they would wait three days. Blinken also reportedly mentioned he would visit Israel in three days.

Blinken addressed these allegations on the platform X, calling the quoted statements "completely fabricated" and untrue. This report emerged as part of a larger Haaretz investigation that also claimed the President of the UAE had warned Netanyahu shortly before the October 7 massacre about an impending Hamas attack, a warning Netanyahu allegedly did not pass on to security chiefs. Netanyahu has denied these accusations and threatened legal action against Haaretz.

Earlier reports mentioned that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had indeed cautioned Netanyahu about a potential escalation in the Palestinian territories prior to the October 7 attacks.