Latest news with #Dermer
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dermer holds first phone call with Qatari PM on hostage deal efforts
US envoy Steve Witkoff attempted to arrange a meeting between Dermer and Al-Thani, but it never came to fruition. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who leads Israel's negotiating team in hostage talks, spoke with Qatari Prime Minister Muhammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on the phone over the weekend, a source familiar with the matter told Walla on Tuesday. Sources confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that this was the first direct contact between the two. Al-Thani is considered a key mediator between Israel and Hamas in the ongoing negotiations. Dermer's office declined to comment on the matter. The Post previously reported that US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, attempted to arrange a meeting between Dermer and Al-Thani after Dermer took office, but it never came to fruition. A source familiar with the details said the conversation aimed to eliminate any 'broken telephone' issues between the parties and ensure that Al-Thani fully understood Israel's position before his scheduled meetings with senior Hamas officials in Doha. Following the conversation with Dermer, Al-Thani met with Hamas leaders to discuss the negotiations. Over the weekend, Hamas announced its readiness to begin 'proximity talks' with Israel to address the remaining disputes regarding the hostage deal and the ceasefire in Gaza. Israeli officials, however, noted that despite Hamas's declaration, the group has so far refused to negotiate on the basis of Witkoff's proposal and continues to maintain its previous position rejecting the plan. Earlier on Tuesday, Israel said it would not send a delegation to Qatar after Hamas requested changes to the deal outlined by Witkoff. However, an Israeli official said that "negotiations have not stopped, efforts of the mediators will continue."
Saba Yemen
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Families of Israeli captives in Gaza demand Dermer's resignation from negotiation team
Occupied Quds – Saba: On Tuesday evening, the Israeli captive families' association demanded that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer resign from his position as head of the negotiation team, accusing him of failing to secure a deal for the release of their loved ones nearly 100 days after his appointment. According to Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper, Dermer is viewed as a close ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom the opposition and captive families accuse of prolonging the war to appease the far-right faction of his government, prioritizing his personal political interests—particularly remaining in power. In a letter sent to Dermer and posted on their official X (formerly Twitter) account, the captive families' association stated: "When you were appointed, we were promised you would lead a real breakthrough." They added: "But not only has not a single captive been released, it now seems you are leading efforts to undermine any potential deal that could bring all the captives home and end the war." The letter continued: "It is only right that you take responsibility and do what is necessary—hand over the keys, return the mandate given to you, and make way for someone who can achieve the victory that includes the return of all 58 captives." The Zionist regime estimates that 58 Israeli captives remain in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, while over 10,100 Palestinian prisoners endure torture, starvation, and medical neglect in Israeli jails, leading to the deaths of dozens, according to Palestinian and Zionist human rights reports. The families further stated: "This is a complete failure. A hundred days of utter failure. A hundred days of the collapse of negotiation strategy under your leadership." They emphasized: "We need a dedicated negotiation team leader who prioritizes the captives above all else, not someone who acts based on other considerations." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dermer, Witkoff to meet in Washington as hostage, Iran talks stall
Dermer arrived in Washington to meet with senior US administration officials on Monday. Strategic Affairs MinisterRon Dermer is expected to meet with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, The Jerusalem Post learned on Tuesday. Dermer arrived in Washington to meet with senior US administration officials on Monday. Additionally, Mossad Director David Barnea and Dermer will discuss the Iranian nuclear issue, an American source told Walla. Hamas agreed to a Gaza ceasefire proposal it attributed to US special envoy Steve Witkoff for a Gaza ceasefire, a Palestinian official close to the group told Reuters on Monday. The new proposal, which sees the release of 10 hostages and 70 days of truce, was reportedly received by Hamas through mediators. 'The proposal includes the release of 10 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas in two groups in return for a 70-day ceasefire and a partial withdrawal from the Gaza Strip,' the source said. The framework agreed upon by Hamas appeared to be distinct from Witkoff's proposal that Israel had previously approved. Israel rejected the proposal crafted by Hamas for a partial deal that would see the release of five hostages. "[The proposal is] very far away from the outline that we are willing to negotiate on," an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post. The proposal included the release of five living hostages in return for the following points: IDF withdrawing to its positions in Gaza from two months ago, allowing humanitarian aid into all areas of Gaza, continued talks for the release of remaining living and dead hostages, what was described as "some kind of American recognition of Hamas." The proposal was formulated by Hamas and passed on to the US through direct backchannel communications. The US then presented the proposal to Israel. Notably, the US didn't say whether it supported the proposal or not.
Middle East Eye
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israel told France and UK it would annex parts of West Bank if they recognise Palestinian state: Report
Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer threatened the UK and France that Israel would annex parts of the occupied West Bank if the countries recognise a Palestinian state, Haaretz reported on Monday. Dermer told the foreign minister of France that Israel would annex parts of Area C in the occupied West Bank and legalise several Israeli settlements as well. France is set to host a conference in June with Saudi Arabia, where discussions about recognising a Palestinian state will be held. All Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law.
Roya News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Trump allegedly cuts off contact with Netanyahu: Report
US President Donald Trump has reportedly severed direct communication with "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid growing frustration and accusations that Netanyahu has been trying to manipulate him. The claim was made by Yanir Cozin, a correspondent for Israeli Army Radio, who posted on X that Trump's decision came after close aides conveyed their concerns to "Israeli" Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. Trump held a quiet meeting with Dermer at the White House on Thursday, where the two discussed nuclear negotiations with Iran and the ongoing "Israeli" military campaign in Gaza, according to a report by Axios. The meeting was not publicly disclosed by either the US or "Israeli" governments, and the White House has yet to comment on it. According to Cozin, Trump's inner circle told Dermer they believed the "Israeli" premier was attempting to use the president for his own political goals. An unnamed "Israeli" official told Army Radio that Dermer's recent discussions with senior Republican figures were perceived as 'arrogant and unhelpful,' further straining ties. "It didn't help that Dermer spoke to senior Republicans with his usual arrogance about what Trump 'must do,'" the official said. "Trump's inner circle told him that Netanyahu is manipulating him, and there's nothing Trump hates more than being portrayed as a sucker, especially someone being played. So he decided to cut off contact. That might still change, but that's the situation right now." בכיר ישראלי אומר בהקשר הזה: "לא עזר שדרמר דיבר עם בכירים רפובליקנים ביהירותו הרגילה שלו על מה טראמפ "חייב לעשות". הסביבה של טראמפ אמרה לו שנתניהו עושה עליו מניפולציות ואין דבר שטראמפ שונא יותר מזה שמציגים אותו כפראייר ועוד כאחד שמשחקים בו, אז הוא החליט לנתק מגע. זה אולי עוד… — Yanir Cozin - יניר קוזין (@yanircozin) May 8, 2025 Cozin also noted that "Israel's" failure to present a clear, actionable plan on key issues—such as Iran's nuclear program, the Houthi threat from Yemen, and the post-war future of Gaza—has further fueled Washington's dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's leadership. The timing of the meeting comes as the US readies for what could be a fourth round of nuclear talks with Iran, tentatively scheduled for this weekend in Oman. Iranian state media pointed to May 11 as a likely date for the new round of negotiations. Washington's top negotiator, Steve Witkoff, confirmed to Axios that the US was working toward holding the next session this weekend. A source told Reuters that Witkoff would be heading to Oman for the talks. Iran has maintained that it remains committed to diplomacy with the US. While Western powers claim Iran's nuclear ambitions are aimed at weapons development, Tehran continues to assert that its program is strictly civilian. Trump, however, has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran if no deal is reached. On Gaza, "Israel's" Security Cabinet recently approved a controversial plan that could see the full military takeover of the enclave, home to 2.3 million people, and tighter control over humanitarian aid—much of which has been blocked from entering Gaza since March. "Israel's" offensive on Gaza has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The war has displaced nearly the entire population of the strip, created widespread hunger, and prompted mounting allegations of war crimes and genocide.
