Networks Paint Netanyahu (Not Hamas) as Impediment to Ceasefire, Why Hostages Died

Curtis Houck
September 3rd, 2024 5:20 PM

Text to Speech

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On Tuesday morning, the “Big Three” of ABC, CBS, and NBC all stacked the deck against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netnayahu and his government, heavily pinning the blame for the deaths (read: executions) of six hostages on him and what they spun as his refusal to accept a ceasefire deal, not Hamas for refusing to accept any number of U.S.-brokered deals or for starting the war on October 7.

Across all three of the flagship network morning news shows, Hamas was treated as some sort of passive actor.

Here was a wildly tone deaf tease on ABC’s Good Morning America from co-host Michael Strahan:

Co-host and former Clinton official George Stephanopoulos wasn’t any better, touting “[t]he protesters” as “demanding a ceasefire, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is standing firm, arguing that making concessions now would send the wrong message to Hamas.”

Huh. That’s weird, considering here were headlines from each of the last two months (here, here, and here for examples) about Hamas rejecting deals (though they cartoonishly claimed they’ve been committed to the negotiating table).

Foreign correspondent Marcus Moore claimed from Israel that its Netanyahu who’s facing “mounting” “pressure” — and not anyone else — “to accept a ceasefire and hostages release deal, but he is not budging and, once again, last night we saw sadness and frustration in the streets of Israel.”

After admitting the “six hostages were murdered”, Moore eagerly promoted the protests outside Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence, Moore had a lone sentence about Hamas’s position before returning to blaming Netanyahu. He even argued Netanyahu’s “defiance and pointed speech could only further jeopardize any chance of a ceasefire.”

Senior White House correspondent Selina Wang did her part to paint the Biden White House as in charge (click “expand”):

STRAHAN: And as the demonstrations in Israel play out, President Biden said his team is working around the clock to — to — excuse me — to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Our senior White House correspondent Selina Wang has the latest for us. Good morning, Selina.

WANG: Good morning, Michael. President Biden is ramping up the pressure on Israel and Hamas to reach a deal. President Biden and Vice President Harris were huddled in the Situation Room on Monday with their top aides to strategize on how to move forward with a cease fire and hostage release deal. President Biden and his team have been trying to negotiate one for months and it is clear now that the President’s patience is running out. Biden flat out said that Netanyahu is not doing enough to get a deal done that would release the hostages. Senior U.S. officials tell me that President Biden is considering presenting a final proposal to Israel and Hamas. If that deal falls apart, it could mean the end of U.S.-led negotiations. Now, the main sticking point of these talks is the Philadelphi control. Netanyahu insists on keeping control of this narrow strip of land on the border between Gaza and Egypt, but Hamas refuses. And, now, the United Kingdom suspending some weapons shipments to Israel. That ramps up the pressure on President Biden to do more. 

Unfortunately for anyone tuning into CBS Mornings, Hamas tool and former al-Jazeera correspondent Imtiaz Tyab (but I repeat myself) was who had their dispatch from Israel.

Co-host and former NFL player Nate Burleson read the teleprompter that said there was “anger” in Israel over “the killing of six hostages” with protesters “accusing their government of stalling on a ceasefire deal to bring the hostages home.”

Eager to foment the tinderbox, Tyab touted the “pain and a lot of anguish here in Israel as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to push back against massive pressure to agree to a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas following the killings of six captives in Gaza.”

“The grief and anger is raw and unforgiving as tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets for a second night to demand Prime Minister Netanyahu bring an end to the war in Gaza and free the remaining captives. The fury here is on a scale not seen before with protesters blaming the killings of the six hostages squarely on Netanyahu,” Tyab added, acting as though his pals in Hamas have no role in not accepting deals since the early days of the war.

Touching on the disagreement between the two over who should control the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and Israel, Tyab made sure to insist “Egypt and Hamas deny” that it’s “used to smuggle weapons.”

He even tried to equivocate the hostages with those dead in Gaza: “Initial autopsies found all were shot dead within days of being found and as the war on Gaza rages on, at least eight Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike while they were trying to buy bread according to health officials”.

Over on NBC’s Today, co-host Savannah Guthrie made zero mention of Hamas in a lengthy opening tease or at the onset of the lead segment. Instead, she touted the White House’s “the last ditch effort for peace” and the “anger and heartbreak” and “large-scale protests” over “the weekend deaths of six hostages in Gaza”.

Correspondent Matt Bradley leaned into the protests, emphasizing protesters and hostage families are “demanding [Netanyahu] reach a deal to free the remaining Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip.”

Only later did Bradley mention Hamas and, as for Guthrie, she later said in a back-and-forth that “[t]hese hostages were executed”. Bradley tried to argue the families aren’t blaming Hamas (click “expand”):

BRADLEY: Two people briefed on the discussions telling NBC News that Biden may offer a final take it or leave it deal to Israel and Hamas as soon as this week in hopes of reaching a ceasefire agreement. Yesterday, Netanyahu directly addressing the families of the six murdered hostages, saying “I’m asking your forgiveness that we didn’t manage to bring them back still alive,” but remaining defiant, saying he won’t give way on his demand that Israeli troops remain on Gaza’s southern border, a key sticking point in negotiations. Hamas saying in a statement that in response it would send other hostages back in coffins of Israel’s military campaign continued, also releasing this video of one of the six, Eden Yaroshalmi, made under duress before her death. Her family approving airing of part of the video.

(....)

GUTHRIE: Matt, the anger is so palpable and part of this is because of the timing. These hostages were executed quite recently and there had been a deal so, so close. Is that what is driving the anger in Israel?

BRADLEY: Yeah, that’s right, Savannah. A lot of the anger here on the streets of Tel Aviv is focused on the fact that just before, you know — just before these negotiations there were supposed to be some of these hostages released in some sort of hostage deal. In fact, as you mentioned, you know, the autopsy autopsies show that 48 to 72 hours before their bodies were found, they were alive. They died because Israel and Hamas weren’t able to come to a deal and even though Hamas pulled the trigger, a lot of the folks here who are on the street, they say that Netanyahu is to blame.

To see the relevant transcripts from September 3, click here (for ABC), here (for CBS), and here (for NBC).

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