Sun Sep 14 15:46:25 UTC 2025: ## Netanyahu Accused of Sabotaging Gaza Ceasefire Efforts, Prolonging Conflict
**Doha, Qatar** – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing mounting accusations of deliberately undermining efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, employing a series of shifting demands and tactics to prolong the ongoing conflict. Critics argue that Netanyahu’s actions are driven by political self-preservation and the need to appease far-right factions within his coalition government.
For nearly two years, Netanyahu has consistently avoided committing to a definitive ceasefire agreement. While a brief truce in November 2023 facilitated the release of 110 hostages, he refused to extend it, leaving others behind. Since then, sources close to negotiations have noted that whenever a potential agreement emerges, Netanyahu introduces new obstacles.
In May 2024, Hamas reportedly accepted a proposed deal, only for Israel to deny agreeing and launch an invasion of Rafah. By September, Netanyahu had added a new condition: permanent Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a demand rejected by both Egypt and Hamas.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly altered the terms of a deal, initially pushing for a partial agreement before insisting on a complete release of all captives as a precondition, not in exchange for an end to the war.
Even proposals put forth by allies have been sidestepped. Despite U.S. President Joe Biden’s announcement in May 2024 that Israel had offered a ceasefire plan, Netanyahu remained silent, effectively killing the deal.
Most recently, Israel bombed Hamas negotiators in Doha as they were discussing a US backed proposal, effectively sabotaging the talks.
Critics within Israel are growing increasingly vocal. Einav Zangauker, the mother of a hostage held in Gaza, directly accused Netanyahu of deliberately “blowing up any deal that comes close to happening.”
Analysts suggest Netanyahu’s reluctance to agree to a ceasefire stems from his dependence on far-right parties like those led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who advocate for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and the establishment of Israeli settlements. Ending the war would likely lead to the collapse of his coalition government and expose Netanyahu to further legal scrutiny in his ongoing corruption trial.
“He keeps Ben-Gvir and Smotrich on his side by never agreeing to end the war, strings along mediators by sending negotiation teams to discuss proposals he won’t accept, and never fully commits to the military fight that would be necessary to try to completely take Gaza,” says a political analyst.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 64,800 Palestinians in Gaza, alongside Israeli captives still held within the territory. As Netanyahu continues to juggle competing political priorities, the future remains uncertain for the region and the people caught in the crossfire. The war continuing with no end in sight could increase both foreign and domestic opposition, ramping up the pressure on Netanyahu until he is either forced to make a decision on ending the war or faces defeat at the ballot box in 2026.
First Piper 