News - Financial Times: Netanyahu expresses opposition to talks on Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tried several times to sabotage the negotiations on the situation in the Gaza Strip, which have now reached a dead end, diplomatic sources say, reports the Financial Times. It added that, initially, Western and Arab countries believed that signing an agreement to end the conflict in Gaza was the only viable way to prevent a full-scale war in the Middle East. But amid the efforts and work of the mediators in these difficult and confusing circumstances, it became obvious that Netanyahu is doing everything to sabotage these steps, said an official who participated in the talks. The negotiators are now farther than ever from reaching an agreement, he added. Another source said they have all lost our horizon and do not know where they are going, as if they are in open sea. Netanyahu's critics, including US officials and lawmakers, believe the Israeli PM has decided to wait for the November 5 US presidential election before discussing a ceasefire agreement. According to Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut), the Israeli government may not sign a ceasefire agreement regarding the Gaza Strip before the US presidential election in November in order to influence the outcome of the vote. Murphy said he really believes that Benjamin Netanyahu wants former US President Donald Trump to win then election, and he believes that Netanyahu is probably driven by political considerations when it comes to whether he will agree to a ceasefire.