Netanyahu and Fogel Deny Report of Secret 2014 Hamas Channel

A report alleged that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized businessman Shlomi Fogel to speak directly with Hamas official Ghazi Hamad during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. It said then-National Security Council chief Yossi Cohen shaped messages for talks that continued for several weeks, while senior IDF, intelligence and Mossad officials were unaware of the channel. The Prime Minister’s Office denied Netanyahu authorized any such contacts and said the report was based on false briefings by political elements. Fogel also denied being sent by Netanyahu or the National Security Council to contact Hamad or other Hamas figures.