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In a move that places the fate of the Gaza truce under his direct control, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close ally to lead negotiations for the second phase of the current ceasefire.

This ally is Ron Dermer, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, often described as the “keeper of secrets” of the Israeli prime minister.

With this decision, Dermer replaces Mossad chief David Barnea as head of the Israeli negotiation team, which also included Ronen Bar.

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Talks on the second phase of the ceasefire—expected to result in a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of all living hostages—were supposed to begin more than two weeks ago.

And although Netanyahu has now stated that the negotiations will begin, CNN notes that his commitment to ensuring their success remains unclear. His Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has threatened to leave the ruling coalition if Israel does not resume war in Gaza once the first phase of the ceasefire agreement ends later this month.

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This shift in Israel’s negotiation strategy comes as Hamas announced it would release the bodies of four hostages tomorrow, Thursday, including the youngest Israeli captives held by the group, Kfir and Ariel Bibas.

Hamas is also expected to release six living hostages on Saturday, followed by four more bodies next week, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Three Objectives Behind This Appointment

According to analysts, this appointment serves three main purposes:

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1. Netanyahu’s Full Control Over the Negotiations
   By appointing Ron Dermer, Netanyahu ensures he has full influence over the negotiation process. In the past, he had expressed dissatisfaction with Barnea and Bar over their handling of discussions, which led to media leaks about disagreements within the Israeli leadership.
2. A Strong Signal to the Israeli Right
   Dermer, known for his right-wing positions, reassures the Israeli right-wing, particularly Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party. Smotrich has threatened to leave the government if Israel does not return to war after the first phase of the agreement.
3. Influencing the U.S. Position
   Dermer played a key role in Israel’s relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. His appointment may help Netanyahu exert greater influence over the U.S. stance during negotiations.

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Netanyahu had repeatedly hinted at his reluctance to enter the second phase of negotiations before convening Israel’s security cabinet (kitchen cabinet) on Monday night to discuss the country’s position in the talks.

This meeting was held at the request of U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff but ended without any official decision.

However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed on Tuesday that his government would enter negotiations for the second phase within the week.

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