Netanyahu thwarted seven Gaza ceasefire deals, Israeli report finds

An Israeli investigative report alleges that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has obstructed seven ceasefire agreements with Hamas since the war began in October 2023. According to senior American and Israeli officials cited in the report, Netanyahu was primarily responsible, often bowing to pressure from far-right ministers. A US State Department spokesperson stated that early in the war, Hamas was ready to release some hostages but Washington could not get the Israeli leadership to take them seriously. Former War Cabinet member Gadi Eisenkot added that the government initially made no effort to secure the captives' release and that Netanyahu and the defence minister created obstacles to the first ceasefire.