Former US official says Israeli demands made Gaza deal 'impossible for another six months'
Middle East Eye
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Middle East Eye
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A former US official who served as national security adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of derailing a Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange deal throughout 2024 by imposing numerous additional conditions against the recommendations of Israel's own security chiefs. Gordon stated that these extra demands resulted in the deaths of nearly 9,000 additional Palestinians and more Israeli captives before the agreement was finally reached in January 2025.
A former senior US official has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of delaying a captive exchange and ceasefire deal in Gaza in 2024 by "so many of his own conditions", which prevented an agreement for "another six months".
Phil Gordon, who served as national security adviser to former US Vice President Kamala Harris from March 2022 to January 2025, made the allegations in a post on X on Saturday.
“Netanyahu instead added so many of his own conditions - against the advice of his own security chiefs - that the deal became impossible for another six months,” Gordon wrote.
He said nearly 9,000 more Palestinians were killed in that period and more Israeli captives died.
Gordon said the added Israeli demands included keeping forces along Gaza’s entire border with Egypt and a new mechanism to screen Palestinians returning north.
Both were dropped in the deal finally concluded in January 2025.
Phil Gordon, who served as national security adviser to former US Vice President Kamala Harris from March 2022 to January 2025, made the allegations in a post on X on Saturday.
“Netanyahu instead added so many of his own conditions - against the advice of his own security chiefs - that the deal became impossible for another six months,” Gordon wrote.
He said nearly 9,000 more Palestinians were killed in that period and more Israeli captives died.
Gordon said the added Israeli demands included keeping forces along Gaza’s entire border with Egypt and a new mechanism to screen Palestinians returning north.
Both were dropped in the deal finally concluded in January 2025.
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Source: Middle East Eye
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