Netanyahu plays a double game, appeasing the US while pressuring his subordinates

According to the AXIOS website, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday that he was committed to reaching a hostage and ceasefire protocol in Gaza, but Israel officials said he refused to give his negotiators enough space to reach a protocol. Netanyahu's negotiating team reported to him on Sunday that a protocol could be reached if he was willing to offer more room for manoeuvre. Two senior Israel officials said Netanyahu refused to budge and condemned the negotiating team for "capitulating." Netanyahu went on to argue that if Israel takes a firm stance, Hamas will eventually give in. The White House previously claimed that significant progress had been made in the talks in Doha last week, with Blinken saying Netanyahu had accepted United States' offer and that Hamas now had a responsibility to agree to a ceasefire. The statement confused some Israel officials, who said Netanyahu's hardline line had actually made it harder to reach a protocol. Netanyahu endorsed United States' proposal, but he knew Hamas would reject it because it included several of his latest demands.