Former US official says Israeli demands made Gaza deal 'impossible for another six months'

A former high-ranking US official has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for making a recent Gaza prisoner exchange and ceasefire deal impossible for a further six months. Phil Gordon, who previously served as national security adviser to former US Vice President Kamala Harris, made the claim in a recent post on social media platform X. According to Gordon, Netanyahu imposed an excessive number of his own stringent conditions, contrary to his own security chiefs' recommendations, rendering the deal unfeasible for an additional six months.

During this period, an estimated 9,000 more Palestinians lost their lives and Israeli captives also met their demise. The Israeli demands included maintaining a military presence along Gaza's border with Egypt and implementing a new system to scrutinize Palestinians returning to northern territories. However, both of these conditions were subsequently removed from the deal that was finally approved in January 2025.