Israel Missed Two Chances for Gaza Truce, Says Ex-Negotiator
Oren Setter Reveals Missed Opportunities
A former Israeli negotiator has claimed that Israel missed two chances to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. Oren Setter, who resigned from Israel’s negotiating team in October, made the statement during an interview on Channel 12.
“In my view, we missed two opportunities to sign an agreement… in March and July,” he said on Saturday. He insisted that Israel could have secured a truce and expedited hostage releases much earlier.
Netanyahu’s Office Rejects Claims
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office dismissed Setter’s remarks. Officials called his claims “entirely baseless.”
A statement from Netanyahu’s office defended the government’s handling of negotiations. “Had the prime minister not stood firm, at least half of the living hostages would not have been freed in the first phase,” it read.
The statement also blamed Hamas for delaying the process. “As repeatedly testified by senior US officials, Hamas refused to engage in negotiations for months and was the sole obstacle to a deal,” it added.
Read more: Imran Khan Directs PTI to Form Grand Opposition Alliance
Debate Over Truce Strategy
The dispute highlights the ongoing debate over Israel’s strategy in Gaza. Some officials believe more aggressive negotiations could have secured an earlier truce. Others argue that Hamas was unwilling to negotiate at the time.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues, with both sides facing mounting pressure from international bodies. More negotiations are expected in the coming weeks.
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