Netanyahu's role in thwarting US-Hamas talks

The Times of Israel reported that the move was intended to "increase Hamas' demands." Meanwhile, a US official told the Hebrew newspaper that they were afraid of finding out who did not want the prisoner release agreement.

On the other hand, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer were leading a "frenzied campaign" to prevent a possible agreement between the US and Hamas. According to the agreement, only prisoners who were US citizens were to be released.

The information sparked a strong reaction from Netanyahu, who said his office was opposed to the information, saying that “this is completely false news that serves Hamas’ propaganda efforts.”

The report, which cited a senior American diplomat and intelligence official and a number of Israeli officials, came as Hamas announced it would release Idan Alexander, an Israeli soldier who holds American citizenship, along with the bodies of four other prisoners.

Yedioth Aharonot reported that Netanyahu’s office leaked information earlier this month that Adam Buehler, the White House envoy for prisoner issues, had recently held talks with Hamas with the aim of approving an interim agreement to release American and Israeli prisoners.

The reporter quoted a US official as saying that the leak was intended to create tension between the US and the Israeli regime, which would cause Hamas to harden its position and allow Netanyahu to blame Hamas for the breakdown of the imminent agreement.

The official said in an interview with the Hebrew newspaper that the Israeli regime wants to maintain control over the flow of information from Hamas to the White House.

The American official said that it is clear that Netanyahu and Ron Dermer are afraid that the United States will suddenly know who wants to reach an agreement and who does not want an agreement, who is hesitant and who is pushing the situation towards a continuation of the war.

The Yedioth Ahronoth reporter quoted an Israeli official as saying that when the Israeli political leadership learned of Buhler’s efforts to free American-Israeli prisoners, they became very angry. Meanwhile, another official expressed doubts about the legality of a prisoner exchange agreement that is limited to American citizens.