Former Biden official: Netanyahu blocked July 2024 hostage deal, prolonged war by six months

Former Biden official Phil Gordon has criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for delaying a July 2024 hostage deal with Hamas, prolonging the Gaza war by six months and resulting in thousands of deaths. Gordon argues that Netanyahu prioritized a "total victory" over a hostage deal or an end to the war, and that his conduct of the conflict was catastrophic.

According to Gordon, Netanyahu's changes to the deal, such as retaining forces along Gaza's border with Egypt and implementing a screening mechanism for returning Gazans, were largely dropped in the final agreement in January 2025. Gordon points to a July 4, 2024 phone call between President Biden and Netanyahu, in which Biden pressed Netanyahu to conclude the hostage deal after Hamas accepted the basic framework, as evidence that US pressure could yield results.

However, Gordon argues that McGurk's account of the call omits Netanyahu's subsequent introduction of additional conditions, which made the deal impossible for another six months. This period saw nearly 9,000 additional Palestinian deaths and more Israeli hostages killed, including six executed by Hamas in August. Gordon concludes that Netanyahu's actions have left Israel more isolated and insecure, and damaged its relationship with the United States.