Key points
- The war initially threatened to end Netanyahu’s career
- But its continuation helped him maintain control of state, suppress calls for accountability: NYT
- Extending the war came at a great human cost, as over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed so far
- In several cases, military leaders deemed further fighting unnecessary, but Netanyahu pressed on
ISLAMABAD: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed opportunities to end the war in Gaza to protect his political position, according to an extensive investigation by The New York Times.
Based on interviews with over 110 officials and analysis of government records, intelligence assessments, and internal communications, the report reveals how Netanyahu repeatedly allowed his political interests to override potential cease-fire deals, extending the war at great human cost.
According to The New York Times, in April 2024, Netanyahu appeared ready to pause the Gaza war for at least six weeks as part of a cease-fire plan brokered through Egyptian mediators.
The agreement, if implemented, would have led to the release of dozens of Israeli hostages and opened a path to wider negotiations.
Fragile coalition
But at a critical cabinet meeting, Netanyahu abandoned the plan after a key far-right coalition partner, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, threatened to dissolve the government if any such deal was advanced. Netanyahu, facing the possibility of early elections and a likely loss, instead chose to preserve his fragile coalition. “No, no, there’s no such thing,” he assured Smotrich, instructing aides not to present the cease-fire proposal.
This moment, The New York Times reports, was just one of several where Netanyahu prioritised political survival over de-escalation. His alliance with far-right ministers, many of whom supported re-establishing Jewish settlements in Gaza, left him dependent on their support to remain in power.
These partners opposed any early cease-fire and advocated for a prolonged military campaign.
The war, which began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 250, initially threatened to end Netanyahu’s career. Many expected him to step down amid public outrage over Israel’s intelligence failures. Instead, Netanyahu leveraged the crisis, gradually regaining political ground.
The war’s continuation and the government’s hardline stance helped him maintain control of the state and suppress calls for accountability.
Missed opportunities
Over time, opportunities to end the conflict were missed.
In several cases, military leaders deemed further fighting unnecessary, but Netanyahu insisted on expanding operations. When momentum for a truce built in early 2024, he instead renewed offensives in Rafah and along the Gaza-Egypt border.
The consequences have been staggering. The war, now the longest high-intensity conflict in Israel’s history, has killed at least 55,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including thousands of children.
The delay in reaching a cease-fire also led to the deaths of additional Israeli hostages and deepened international condemnation. The International Criminal Court has since called for Netanyahu’s arrest over alleged war crimes, and global opinion has shifted sharply against Israel.
Political payoff
Despite this, the political payoff for Netanyahu has been significant. He avoided a state inquiry into the October 7 failures, consolidated his power over the Israeli state, and now holds more authority than at any other point in his career.
His administration is even moving to dismiss the attorney general overseeing his long-running corruption trial.
“Netanyahu pulled off a political resurrection that no one — not even his closest allies — thought possible,” Srulik Einhorn, a political strategist close to the prime minister told The New York Times.
