Netanyahu Held Secret Gaza War Talks with Hamas via Intermediary

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas during the 2014 Gaza War, reportedly circumventing Israel's security establishment. Businessman Shlomi Fogel acted as an intermediary, facilitating communication with senior Hamas figures in Gaza, according to a report.

These talks differed from traditional negotiation channels involving Egypt or Qatar. Instead, Netanyahu, guided by then-National Security Council chief Yossi Cohen, used Fogel to speak directly with Hamas representative Razi Hamed. The conversations, conducted via phone over several weeks, established guidelines set by Netanyahu and messages shaped by Cohen.

Senior defense officials reportedly discovered this secret backchannel while official ceasefire negotiations were ongoing through Egyptian mediators. The report states that officials confronted Netanyahu, who allegedly denied his involvement and instructed them to ask Fogel to cease contact. However, it later became clear that Fogel was acting with Netanyahu's authorization.

Razi Hamed, identified as a senior Hamas figure and chairman of the Gaza Energy Authority, engaged in ceasefire discussions with Fogel, who managed the talks on Netanyahu's behalf. The revelation of this clandestine communication channel reportedly caused significant shock among the heads of Israel's security branches.

“

Take a calculated risk