A recent report from Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth revealed that a senior Israeli security official blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for derailing a draft hostage and ceasefire deal last July. The official accused Netanyahu of introducing a document that was “soaked in the blood of captives,” which led to the collapse of the agreement. This incident has further fueled existing allegations of Netanyahu purposely prolonging conflicts for political gain, as claimed by captive families.
The report highlighted how Netanyahu’s demands for changes in the document, following the retrieval of bodies of six murdered hostages, played a significant role in sabotaging the deal. It was also indicated that at least three of the captives found dead in Gaza were meant to be released as part of the initial agreement proposed in May.
The Israeli negotiators, at Netanyahu’s behest, introduced new demands into the negotiation process, deviating from the original proposal and causing the collapse of the deal. These actions were branded as the “Netanyahu Outline,” leading to scrutiny and blame for the tragic outcome.
According to sources familiar with the talks, Netanyahu’s insistence on these new demands directly contributed to the deaths of the captives, sparking outrage and condemnation.
Source: Yedioth Ahronoth and CNN