Netanyahu Contradicts White House: 'No Gaza Deal In Progress... It's Not Near'

Netanyahu's Statement Contradicts White House

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a significant statement on Thursday that starkly contradicts the White House's narrative on the progress of Hamas negotiations for a ceasefire deal. In a live interview segment on Fox News, he stated, "There’s not a deal in progress. Unfortunately, it’s not near." These comments are the most decisive and unambiguous Netanyahu has ever been about the evidently failed international efforts to broker a truce in Gaza.

White House Claims of Progress

In recent days and weeks, the White House has issued a number of statements asserting that the Biden administration is leading the efforts to secure a peace deal and hostage swap. Blinken and Kirby have used various metaphors, such as being at "the goal line," to repeatedly claim that a comprehensive deal is 'near'. However, President Biden's rhetoric has shifted in the last few days. While the administration has blamed Hamas for rejecting the deal, Biden has also started to say that Netanyahu is "not doing enough" to bring about peace.

No Viable Deal in Sight

Netanyahu's recent interview confirms what many have suspected - there is currently no viable deal, and there never was a deal 'on the table' or at 'the goal line'. He dismissed reports that negotiators were close to agreeing on a ceasefire deal, calling it a "false narrative." Interestingly, the White House has been the main propagator of this false narrative, causing embarrassment for the US administration. Netanyahu's comments are likely to further strain the already tense US-Israel relations.

Netanyahu Blames Hamas

Despite the lack of progress, Netanyahu continues to blame Hamas for the lack of a deal. He told Fox that the group "don’t agree to anything. Not to the Philadelphi Corridor, not to the keys of exchanging hostages for jailed terrorists, not to anything. So that’s just a false narrative." Massive Israeli protests following the recent recovery of six dead hostages have called for Netanyahu's removal from office. The families of the hostage victims also accuse him of blocking a truce deal for the release of the hostages, choosing instead to prioritize the military operation against Gaza militants.

Continued Conflict in Gaza

As many have predicted, it appears that the conflict in Gaza is likely to continue for at least several more months, if not years, especially given the lack of a potential ceasefire in sight. CNN noted that the Israeli leader "was as clear as he has ever been about how he views a ceasefire and hostage agreement with Hamas."

Bottom Line

The situation in Gaza continues to be a complex and challenging issue, with no clear resolution in sight. The contradictory statements from the White House and Netanyahu highlight the difficulties in achieving a ceasefire and peace deal. It raises questions about the effectiveness of international efforts and the true intentions of the involved parties. What are your thoughts on this development? Do you think a peace deal is achievable in the near future? Share this article with your friends and start a conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.