Ex-US Official Accuses Netanyahu of Derailing Hostage Deal
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Former US National Security Advisor Phil Gordon accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of derailing a hostage deal with Hamas in the summer of 2024. Gordon corroborated claims that Netanyahu added new conditions after Hamas dropped its demand for a permanent ceasefire, effectively stalling negotiations for six months. This delay led to further conflict and the deaths of hostages, with the disputed conditions later removed from the final agreement in January 2025. The Likud party has dismissed these criticisms as politically motivated.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Former US official Phil Gordon claims PM Netanyahu derailed a Hamas hostage deal in summer 2024.
- Netanyahu reportedly added new conditions to a deal after Hamas dropped its ceasefire demand.
- The added conditions stalled negotiations for six months, leading to further conflict and hostage deaths.
- Six hostages were killed by militants in August 2024 during the stalled negotiation period.
- The disputed conditions were later removed from the agreement finalized in January 2025.
- Netanyahu's Likud party dismissed the claims as a politically motivated campaign.
Former US National Security Advisor Phil Gordon has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's actions during ceasefire negotiations in the summer of 2024, alleging that Netanyahu derailed a hostage deal with Hamas. Gordon's statements, reported by The Times of Israel, corroborate testimony from Avi Gil, former Military Secretary to the Prime Minister, who stated that Israeli leadership missed an opportunity to secure the release of hostages alive.
According to Gordon, in early July 2024, US President Joe Biden urged Netanyahu to accept a deal after Hamas dropped its demand for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. However, instead of approving the agreement, Netanyahu added new conditions, disregarding recommendations from Israeli security chiefs. These conditions included maintaining military presence along the Gaza-Egypt border and implementing checks on Palestinian Arabs returning to northern Gaza.
Gordon believes these added demands effectively stalled negotiations for another six months. During this period, fighting continued, resulting in thousands of deaths, including six hostages killed by militants in August 2024. Notably, both contentious points were eventually removed from the agreement reached in January 2025.
Previous claims from a former Netanyahu aide suggested the Prime Minister sought to avoid the collapse of his governing coalition, thus considering the stance of far-right partners who opposed any deal with Hamas. The Likud party has rejected these assertions, characterizing the statements from former officials and security figures as a politically motivated campaign against the Prime Minister.
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Centre 4Right 1Other 2
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
