Netanyahu’s Office Sabotaged Trump Prisoner Deal, Pushed for Boehler’s Removal

Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office actively worked to derail a US-led deal to secure the release of Americans imprisoned by the resistance after serving in the Israeli army, according to a report by Yedioth Ahronoth. Sources say Netanyahu’s inner circle launched a media campaign and leaked classified negotiations, leading to the removal of US special envoy Adam Boehler.

An Israeli source revealed that Netanyahu’s government was outraged when it discovered that Washington had begun direct negotiations with Hamas without going through Israel.

“We were shocked and never expected the Americans to go this far,” an Israeli insider said.

According to a senior US official, Israel did not want Trump to know Hamas’s demands unless they came through Netanyahu and his close adviser Ron Dermer.

The Israeli leadership worked behind the scenes to ensure Boehler’s removal. A US official told Yedioth Ahronoth that Netanyahu’s team leaked confidential discussions and launched an aggressive media campaign against Boehler, pressuring the Trump administration to withdraw his nomination as the administration hostage envoy.

The official said that Netanyahu’s circle led the leaks and the media attacks on Boehler.

Another US source said the Trump administration failed to stand up to Netanyahu, choosing political safety over pressuring Israel with military aid.

“The Trump team prioritized its political interests instead of using security assistance to push Netanyahu,” the source added.

The Israeli report also revealed that Netanyahu is angry that Donald Trump is getting all the credit for prisoner negotiations.

While Israeli media had reported Boehler’s removal days ago, American news outlets only confirmed it today. Fox News cited an insider who said the Trump administration may offer Boehler another position in response to his dismissal.

In a CNN interview, Boehler had described them as “actually pretty nice guys; guys like us.” He also stated that the U.S. is “not an agent of Israel.”

His remarks were made following outrage from Ron Dermer, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs and a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Dermer reportedly made an angry phone call opposing Trump’s decision to engage in direct negotiations with Hamas resistance movement.