From Netanyahu’s office slams report accusing him of torpedoing hostage deal
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
After Channel 12 airs a special report accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “torpedoing” potential hostage deals with Hamas, his office says the “false claims” in the media “echo the propaganda of the terrorist organization Hamas.
The Prime Minister’s Office argues that Netanyahu accepted all of the US proposals, which “completely refutes the claim that he sabotaged any deal for political reasons.”
The PMO points out that Netanyahu sent a proposal on April 27 that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called “very generous”; that he agreed to US President Joe Biden’s proposal on May 31; and that, on August 16, he accepted the US “final bridging proposal,” all of which were turned down by Hamas.
Netanyahu’s office also points out that US officials have said repeatedly that there is no deal because of Hamas — though they have also put some of the blame on Israel at certain times.
“Those who want to help in the effort to free our hostages should put pressure on the murderer [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar and not on the Prime Minister of Israel,” says the PMO.
