An Israeli official has announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close confidant, Ron Dermer, to lead negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire with Hamas. Dermer, a U.S.-born Cabinet minister, is widely regarded as Netanyahu’s closest adviser and has previously served as Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. He is known for his strong ties to the Trump White House and his background as a former Republican activist.
Israel and Hamas are yet to engage in discussions for the second phase of the ceasefire, with the first phase set to conclude in early March. The proposal put forth by U.S. President Donald Trump to relocate the Palestinian population from Gaza and assume control of the territory has been unanimously rejected by Palestinians and Arab nations.
