Netanyahu’s Alleged 2014 Back-Channel Talks with Hamas and Recent Security Warnings

A report cited by *Walla* and reproduced by the *Times of Israel* claims that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arranged private telephone contacts with senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad while the 2014 Gaza war was ongoing. The alleged conduit was businessman Shlomi Fogel, who previously was linked to Qatari cash transfers to Hamas. According to the report, messages were drafted by then-head of the National Security Council Yossi Cohen and reached Hamas at the same time official negotiations were taking place in Cairo. The report says Israeli defense officials later learned of the talks, questioned Fogel twice, and accepted his claim that he was acting on behalf of Netanyahu and Cohen.

Times of Israel

A statement on behalf of Fogel likewise denied any assignment from the prime minister or the national security adviser. Avigdor Liberman, chair of Yisrael Beytenu, labeled Netanyahu “a danger to Israel’s security.”

Times of Israel

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the government’s ultimatum concerning incendiary balloons and kites launched from Gaza toward southern Israeli communities has expired. He warned that any future launch will be treated as a terrorist act and met with a strong response against organizers, perpetrators, launch sites and supporting infrastructure. Katz said the IDF, acting on instructions from the prime minister, will use all necessary tools to confront such threats.

i24NEWSTimes of Israel

• “The ultimatum we set following the launch of balloons and kites from the Gaza Strip toward the Negev communities has expired,” — Israel Katz, defense minister

i24NEWS

• “We made it clear that from our perspective, any launch is a terrorist act in every sense of the word, and that is how we will treat it.” — Israel Katz, defense minister

i24NEWS

• “From now on, every launch will be met with a forceful response against those responsible, the organizers and perpetrators, as well as against the launch sites and infrastructure used by them,” — Israel Katz, defense minister

Times of Israel

• “We will not allow Hamas or any other party to return to the methods of intimidation and threats against the southern communities as they did before October 7, and whoever does so will pay a heavy price,” — Israel Katz, defense minister

i24NEWS