Phil Gordon, a former national security advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris, has publicly alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intentionally delayed progress on a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal throughout 2024. According to Gordon, the Prime Minister repeatedly introduced new conditions into the negotiation process that were not previously part of the framework. Gordon characterized these additions as a strategic move that rendered a deal 'impossible' to finalize for a duration of six months.

This account highlights a significant point of friction between the Biden-Harris administration and the Israeli government. While the U.S. administration has consistently pushed for a deal to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, Gordon’s comments suggest that the primary obstacle during this specific timeframe was the Israeli leadership's shifting requirements. The report notes that during this six-month delay, several Israeli hostages who were being held in Gaza passed away. The Israeli government has not yet provided a detailed public rebuttal to these specific claims regarding the timeline of the negotiations, though the report frames the allegations as an expansion on existing criticisms regarding Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage crisis.