DayofPal– A recent investigation aired by Israel’s Channel 13 has sent shockwaves across political and media circles, exposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right ministers for deliberately sabotaging at least five potential deals.
According to the investigation, all of the deals detailed could have led to the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza and brought an end to the devastating war on the enclave.
The investigative report, based on testimonies from former members of Israel’s war cabinet, including Gadi Eisenkot and the former deputy head of Israel’s negotiation team, revealed that Netanyahu’s leadership repeatedly misled the public and manipulated the media to project a false image of progress in ceasefire negotiations.
Among the most damning revelations was a confession by former U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, who admitted that the Biden administration was aware of Netanyahu’s attempts to obstruct ceasefire talks and impose additional conditions intended to sabotage the negotiations.
Despite this knowledge, Washington chose silence, fearing any exposure would strengthen Hamas’s position.
The investigation detailed five key methods Netanyahu allegedly used to derail negotiations:
Political and Media Deception
The report revealed that Netanyahu routinely dispatched negotiation teams to Doha and Cairo with limited or no authority to make real decisions.
According to the former deputy chief negotiator, “Our mandate ranged from minimal to zero and would often change mid-flight.”
While the Israeli government outwardly projected willingness to reach a deal, it instead used the talks to buy time and escalate military operations in Gaza.
Manipulating U.S. Political Dynamics
Netanyahu successfully exploited the stances of both the Biden and Trump administrations. While Biden’s administration remained passive, allowing Israel to dictate the course of the war, Trump’s allies provided overt support to Netanyahu’s hardline approach.
Notably, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, echoed Netanyahu’s talking points and prematurely declared negotiations collapsed, withdrawing the U.S. delegation from Doha despite being on the verge of a breakthrough.
Delays and Last-Minute Reversals
Netanyahu repeatedly altered terms and introduced new conditions just as progress was being made.
Several times, he backtracked on previously agreed-upon clauses, frustrating mediators and prompting negotiators to admit that their government was merely using the process as a time-buying tactic to further its war aims.
Deceiving Israeli Public and Families of Captives
The investigation indicated that Netanyahu’s government used false promises of military solutions and future deals to placate the Israeli public, particularly the families of captives. These tactics were meant to reduce domestic pressure without genuine intent to secure a resolution.
Blaming Hamas While Shielded by U.S. Support
Netanyahu consistently placed blame on Hamas for failed negotiations, leveraging unwavering U.S. diplomatic and media support to deflect criticism.
The Israeli government imposed increasingly unrealistic demands on Hamas while simultaneously accusing the group of sabotaging peace efforts.
The findings suggest that Israel’s leadership not only prolonged the war for political and ideological reasons but also used the ceasefire negotiations as a facade to continue implementing a broader strategy.
Analysts and former officials warn this strategy includes continued military operations in Gaza and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.
Critics argue that the war’s prolongation serves the far-right agenda of Netanyahu’s coalition, which views the war as a means to redraw the region’s political map and achieve long-term strategic goals under the guise of national security.
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