Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signed up a Trump confidant to lead precarious negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire.
The appointment of US-born Cabinet Minister Ron Dermer, probably Netanyahu’s closest adviser and a hardliner, could signal a flashpoint in further peace talks. It comes as Israel is bracing for an emotionally charged handing over of four dead bodies from Gaza on Thursday as part of the ongoing hostage releases. Adding to the atmosphere surrounding the hand-over is the possibility two of the hostages may be children.
The sight of any bodies leaving the Strip will ignite strong feelings and grief throughout Israel and beyond – especially if there are two small body bags or coffins. The first stage of the living hostage deal will most likely wrap up this weekend, after Hamas provided a list of hostages it intends to release – six living hostages being freed on Saturday and the bodies of four tomorrow.
Hamas is also expected to release four more dead next week. Dermer previously served as Israel’s ambassador to the US and is a former Republican activist with strong ties to the Trump White House. Palestinians and Arab countries have universally rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal to remove the Palestinian population from the Gaza Strip. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi demanded a reconstruction plan allowing Palestinians to stay in their homeland.
Speaking in Madrid at a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, he said reconstruction must be implemented “without the transfer of the Palestinian people from their land to which they cling”. Egypt and Jordan have rejected Mr Trump’s suggestion that they take in large numbers of Palestinian refugees. Mr Sanchez branded Trump’s proposal “immoral and contrary to international law and United Nations resolutions”.
He and Mr el-Sissi called for the revival of a peace process leading to a two-state solution to the conflict. Since the war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’s attack on October 7 2023, more than 50,000 people have died in Gaza and Lebanon. Almost 70% of the buildings in Gaza have been devastated, according to health ministries in Gaza and Lebanon. Around 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attack.
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