Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly obstructed ceasefire and hostage release negotiations during the Gaza war, according to former U.S. officials cited in a new Channel 13 investigation.
The exposé reported that senior Biden administration figures grew frustrated with Netanyahu’s approach, privately accusing him of derailing U.S.-backed diplomatic efforts and prolonging the conflict. Officials admitted Washington even considered publicly criticising Netanyahu but held back out of concern that exposing divisions might harden Hamas’s stance.
Matthew Miller, former U.S. State Department spokesperson, recalled that early in the war Secretary of State Antony Blinken had warned Israel’s war cabinet that failing to outline a political plan for Gaza risked leaving Israel locked in “an endless insurgency”. Miller said Netanyahu responded: “You’re right. We are going to be fighting this war for decades to come. That’s the way it’s been. That’s the way it’s going to be.”
Key examples of alleged obstruction include:
- Rafah talks undermined (April 2024): While the U.S. urged Hamas to accept a six-week ceasefire to delay Israel’s Rafah offensive, Netanyahu declared Israel would invade “whether there was a ceasefire or not”, undercutting leverage.
- Hostage deal leaks (May 2024): President Biden publicly revealed details of a hostage deal to lock Netanyahu into an agreement. Israeli officials then leaked claims that Biden’s outline did not match what Netanyahu had approved.
- Philadelphi Corridor condition (July 2024): After Hamas responded positively to a U.S.-brokered proposal, Israel delayed for weeks. Netanyahu then introduced a new demand for Israeli troops to remain along Gaza’s border with Egypt, which U.S. officials described as the most damaging blow to the process.
- “Waiting for Trump” (late 2024): Channel 13’s Hamakor programme reported that Netanyahu shelved a Shin Bet-backed proposal in order to stall negotiations until after Donald Trump potentially returned to the White House.
The U.S. officials said Netanyahu’s repeated interventions derailed momentum at key moments, with consequences for both ceasefire prospects and the release of hostages.
Publicly, Netanyahu has maintained that Hamas was the sole obstacle to any deal. However, the Channel 13 report revealed that American officials privately concluded the prime minister was often the party adding new conditions, delaying progress, and blocking agreements even as hostages’ lives remained in jeopardy.
