Former U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in an interview broadcast by Israel’s Channel 13 that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly obstructed Gaza cease-fire negotiations. Miller, who served under Secretary of State Antony Blinken until early 2025, recalled Netanyahu telling U.S. officials that Israel expected to "be fighting this war for decades" and routinely added new conditions whenever a deal was within reach. Miller’s remarks echo separate Channel 13 and Channel 12 reports that the prime minister derailed at least seven cease-fire initiatives advanced by Egyptian, Qatari and U.S. mediators. The disclosures contradict the public narrative that Hamas alone was responsible for the collapse of talks and are likely to intensify scrutiny of both Israel’s Gaza strategy and Washington’s support for it. Pressure on Netanyahu is also rising at home. Channel 12 said Israeli assessments show two of the remaining hostages held in Gaza are in extremely critical condition, a development that has spurred families to step up nationwide protests scheduled through early next week. Demonstrators accuse the government of prioritising military operations over a comprehensive prisoner-exchange deal. The conflict, now in its 23rd month, shows no sign of resolution. Miller’s disclosure is the first from a former U.S. official directly accusing Netanyahu of prolonging the war, and it adds to growing domestic and international calls for a negotiated cease-fire.