New York Times rejects Netanyahu’s denial over report he sought to prolong Gaza war for political gain

By Asiye Latife Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - The New York Times on Sunday rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s denial of its report alleging he prolonged the war in Gaza to stay in power, saying his office “does not refute the facts” of the investigation.

The report, published Friday, was based on more than 110 interviews and internal documents. It alleged that Netanyahu delayed a ceasefire and blocked a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia to maintain the support of his far-right coalition partners and protect his political position.

In a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office dismissed the story, calling it a “rehash of long discredited claims of Prime Minister Netanyahu's political opponents.”

“It defames Israel, its brave people and soldiers, and its Prime Minister,” the statement said, praising Netanyahu’s role in military operations targeting Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

In response, a spokesperson for the New York Times said: “The statement from the Prime Minister’s office does not refute the facts of that reporting.”

“Our role as independent journalists is to report and disclose information vital to the public interest, and to hold leaders to account regardless of party,” the spokesperson said. “What our investigation shows in detail is how prolonging the Gaza war helped Mr. Netanyahu to stay in power.”

Since late October 2023, Israel has waged a full-scale assault on the Gaza Strip following Hamas’ cross-border attacks. More than 58,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed, according to health authorities in the enclave. Large parts of Gaza have been reduced to rubble, with mass displacement, famine conditions, and disease outbreaks reported.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its ongoing military campaign in the besieged territory.