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Ex-Biden Official Accuses Netanyahu of Derailing Hostage Deal
Phil Gordon, a former national security advisor to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, has criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct of the war in Gaza, accusing him of prioritizing military victory and coalition stability over the release of hostages held by Hamas.
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What happened
- 01Former Biden official Phil Gordon accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of blocking a July 2024 hostage deal by introducing new conditions.
- 02Gordon stated that Netanyahu's demands went against the advice of his own security chiefs and stalled the agreement for six months.
- 03The six-month delay resulted in approximately 9,000 additional Palestinian deaths and the loss of more Israeli hostages, including six executed by Hamas in August.
- 04Gordon rejected claims that a new book by Brett McGurk justifies Netanyahu's war strategy, stating most former colleagues wanted more U.S. pressure on Israel.
- 05According to Gordon, McGurk's own account indicates that securing the release of hostages was not Netanyahu's primary objective during the war.
- 06Gordon argued that Netanyahu prioritized military victory, ending Hamas rule, and coalition stability over the release of the hostages.
Writing on X, Gordon rejected claims by Netanyahu's supporters that a new book by senior Biden advisor Brett McGurk justifies the prime minister's strategy. According to Gordon, most of his former colleagues in the Biden administration believed the United States should have exerted more pressure on Israel to alter its war strategy and bring the conflict to a swifter conclusion.
Gordon stated that Netanyahu derailed a potential hostage deal in July 2024 by introducing new conditions after the terrorist organization Hamas had accepted the core framework and dropped its demand for a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu reportedly took this step against the advice of his own security chiefs, stalling the agreement for six months. During this delay, approximately 9,000 additional Palestinians were killed, and more Israeli hostages died, including six who were executed by Hamas in August.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
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