Netanyahu Denies Secret Backchannel Talks With Hamas in 2014

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently denied allegations that he maintained a secret, direct channel of communication with Hamas in 2014, bypassing the country's security establishment. Reports from Israeli news sites Walla and Maariv surfaced Thursday, claiming Netanyahu engaged in backchannel talks with the Palestinian militant group during Operation Protective Edge that year. The Prime Minister's Office swiftly dismissed the claims, labeling them as "false briefings by political elements trying to harm the Prime Minister" and a "powerful blow" to Netanyahu and his Likud party as elections loom.

The controversy centers on the 2014 Gaza conflict, known as Operation Protective Edge, which began after a settler kidnapped and murdered a Palestinian teenager. The 50-day war resulted in over 2,251 Palestinian deaths, predominantly civilians, and 74 Israeli deaths, including 69 soldiers. During this period, official negotiations to end the war were reportedly underway in Cairo, with the Egyptian delegation allegedly unaware of Netanyahu's purported secret communications.

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Prime Minister Netanyahu has never approved such contacts.

According to the reports, Israeli businessman Shlomi Fogel, who leads several major companies, facilitated contact between Netanyahu and Hamas official Ghazi Hamad. Fogel was reportedly acting under the guidance of then-National Security Council chief Yossi Cohen. Senior defense officials allegedly confronted Netanyahu about these contacts, who initially denied them and instructed Fogel to stop. However, it later emerged that Fogel had been acting with Netanyahu's authorization, despite initial warnings.

Journalist Ben Caspit wrote that officials learned Fogel was conducting the talks with Hamad, who served as deputy minister in the Hamas government at the time. The investigative reports suggest that Fogel was initially warned to cease contact but continued, leading officials to discover he had Netanyahu's approval. The Prime Minister's Office insists, "There was no such thing, and there will never be. Prime Minister Netanyahu has never approved such contacts."

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There was no such thing, and there will never be.