Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Loses Momentum in Gaza Truce Talks After Iran Victory

By Patrick Kingsley
New York Times · 4 Aug, 2025 10:10 PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, once flush with political capital after a military victory over Iran in June, now finds himself in a precarious position as Gaza truce negotiations stall and international pressure mounts.

After a brief surge in confidence and authority, Netanyahu’s efforts to broker a comprehensive ceasefire with Hamas have hit a wall, with talks once again deadlocked. The political landscape has shifted dramatically, and the Prime Minister’s ability to secure a lasting truce has become increasingly uncertain.

According to Oren Setter, a former member of Israel’s negotiation team, the lack of compromise from both Hamas and Netanyahu has doomed any chance of a comprehensive agreement. “There will be no comprehensive agreement, and the hostages will not return,” Setter wrote in a recent column.

Meanwhile, international condemnation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to grow, with European allies moving swiftly to recognize Palestinian statehood unilaterally. In the United States, most Democratic senators blocked arms sales to Israel, and Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene accused Israel of genocide, a claim the country strongly denies.

Within Israel, the war has sparked a deepening societal crisis. Military reservists, who have been central to the war effort, are showing signs of fatigue and trauma. A committee has been established to investigate how to better support these soldiers as they leave service.

Michael Koplow of the Israel Policy Forum described the situation as “the tightest spot Israel has been in at any point in the war,” citing a societal crisis over the war and the plight of hostages, a military crisis over the lack of clear aims and reservist fatigue, and an existential crisis over Israel’s eroding standing in the US.

Adding to the challenges, US President Donald Trump’s failure to leverage his influence following the Iran victory has left Israel without a clear path forward. Analysts had expected Trump to demand an end to the Gaza conflict, but instead, Netanyahu secured more time, prolonging the stalemate.

Inside Gaza, the situation remains dire. Despite recent efforts to increase food supplies, health authorities report that Palestinians are still dying daily from starvation. Civilians continue to face violence as they attempt to access aid, with Israeli soldiers shooting at those trying to reach distribution sites.

Within Israel, criticism of Netanyahu’s leadership is growing. Former security chiefs, including two former army chiefs of staff and three former heads of Shin Bet, have called for an end to the war, stating that it has become endless and pointless.

Netanyahu, however, remains resolute, insisting that the war must continue until Hamas is destroyed and the remaining hostages are released. Yet, critics argue that Hamas is already decimated, and that continued fighting could endanger the hostages and further damage Israel’s reputation.

As the war drags on, the exhaustion of Israel’s military reservists and the public’s growing frustration with the conflict threaten to erode the government’s stability. The Prime Minister’s focus on maintaining his coalition government, which includes ministers seeking to annex Gaza, has further complicated efforts to reach a resolution.

With the situation in Gaza worsening and international pressure mounting, Netanyahu now faces the challenge of balancing military objectives with the growing calls for an end to the war.