Former State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told Israel’s Channel 13 on Thursday that former Secretary of State Antony Blinken had warned Israel’s war cabinet early in the fighting that the country risked an endless insurgency without a clear plan about Gaza’s future.

“You’re right. We are going to be fighting this war for decades to come. That’s the way it’s been. That’s the way it’s going to be,” Netanyahu reportedly responded.

Channel 13 said Netanyahu, along with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, prevented prisoner exchange agreements with Hamas on at least five occasions.

Miller confirmed the findings, saying Washington was aware Israel was undercutting cease-fire efforts but remained quiet. “We had no broad mandate. At times it was zero,” said Miller, noting that conditions often changed abruptly, sometimes even as US envoys were boarding planes.