In a significant development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close political ally, Ron Dermer, to lead talks over phase two of the current ceasefire in Gaza. Dermer will replace Israel's previous chief negotiator, David Barnea, who led talks resulting in the current deal. The negotiations on phase two, which involve the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of hostages, were supposed to start over two weeks ago.
Netanyahu's finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has threatened to withdraw from the government coalition if Israel does not return to war in Gaza when the current ceasefire expires on March 1. The reshuffle in Israel's negotiating team comes as Hamas announced the release of hostages, including the bodies of four individuals and the upcoming release of six living hostages.
Notably, Israel's security establishment, including the head of the Israel Security Agency, will not be part of the new negotiating team. This move sidelines the security establishment with whom Netanyahu has clashed previously. The government aims to push Hamas for more hostages and extend phase one of the ceasefire.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar mentioned that phase two could be delayed if constructive dialogue is ongoing, but military action would resume if negotiations do not progress. Hamas negotiators in Cairo have accelerated the delivery of hostages as part of the phase one agreement.
Furthermore, there have been discussions about the feasibility of implementing the Trump plan for voluntary immigration and creating another Gaza. The proposal, which involves relocating Palestinians to other Middle Eastern countries, has faced criticism from Palestinian and Arab leaders.
Despite challenges, US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, highlighted the complexities of bringing both sides together for phase two negotiations. The phase contemplates an end to the war and Hamas's disengagement from Gaza, posing a significant hurdle to overcome.
