World · Middle East · 1 day ago
Former Biden official says Netanyahu added conditions that stalled 2024 Gaza deal
Phil Gordon, a former national security adviser to US Vice President Kamala Harris, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed a Gaza hostage-release and ceasefire deal in 2024.
Gordon said Hamas had accepted the basic framework by July, but Netanyahu added conditions that made agreement impossible for another six months.
He said the new demands included keeping Israeli forces along Gaza’s border with Egypt and screening people returning to northern Gaza.
Gordon said Israeli security chiefs had advised against those changes, which were later dropped from the deal reached in January 2025.
He said several hostages died during the delay, including six whom Hamas killed in August.
The dispute concerns whether an agreement could have brought some hostages home alive sooner.
Netanyahu’s former military aide Avi Gil had also alleged that Netanyahu passed up opportunities to secure a deal, but the story does not include a response from Netanyahu to these claims.
Phil Gordon said Benjamin Netanyahu added conditions to a proposed Gaza hostage-release and ceasefire deal in mid-2024, delaying an agreement.
Gordon said the conditions made a deal impossible for another six months and that hostages died during that period.
He said the conditions included keeping Israeli forces along Gaza’s border with Egypt and screening people returning to northern Gaza.
Gordon said both conditions were dropped in the deal concluded in January 2025.
His comments followed allegations by Netanyahu’s former military secretary, Avi Gil, that the prime minister delayed a deal for political reasons.
- Who
- Phil Gordon, a former national security adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris, accused Benjamin Netanyahu of delaying a deal.
- What
- Gordon said Netanyahu added conditions that made a hostage-release and ceasefire deal impossible for another six months.
- When
- The dispute concerns negotiations in mid-2024. Gordon made his comments on October 10, 2026.
- Where
- Gaza.
- Why
- Gordon said Netanyahu’s conditions stalled the deal; he also said the conditions were added against the advice of Israeli security chiefs.
Phil Gordon
Netanyahu supporters
Interpretation of the 2024 negotiations
Phil Gordon
Gordon said Netanyahu added conditions that made a deal impossible for another six months.
Netanyahu supporters
Netanyahu supporters cited Brett McGurk’s book and interviews as vindication of Netanyahu’s conduct of the war.
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, during which nearly 9,000 more Palestinians were killed and more Israeli hostages died, including the six that Hamas executed in August.
We could have.
Gordon said Biden called Netanyahu to press him to conclude a hostage deal after Hamas accepted the basic framework.
Hamas executed six hostages whom Gordon said could have been released under the deal.
The deal was concluded, and Gordon said it dropped the conditions about Israeli forces on the Egypt border and screening people returning north.
The Times of Israel reported Gordon’s allegations.
- Proposed deal
- Hostage-release and ceasefire agreement
- Gordon’s role
- Former national security adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris
- Conditions cited
- Israeli forces along Gaza’s entire border with Egypt; screening people returning to northern Gaza
- Delay alleged by Gordon
- Six months
- Agreement concluded
- January 2025
Sources
Related news
Riyadh airport hit again after deadly Houthi attack
11 killed and 27 injured in tour bus crash in western Türkiye
Iran says US response to Hormuz reopening conditions is insufficient
Netanyahu seeks investigation into anonymous participants in Gaza documentary
Oil chiefs and BP withdraw from Riyadh energy conference after airport attack
Missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 12 and injures more than 300
Attack injures several people and halts operations at Riyadh airport
Projectile hits Riyadh airport terminal in second attack in two days
Crews reportedly offered large rewards to cross Strait of Hormuz
US forces disable cargo ship accused of trying to breach Iran blockade
Indian man dies after Riyadh airport attack, embassy says
