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Ron Dermer, Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister and the close aide who led the sensitive negotiations for the Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange, has resigned from his ministerial post.
Dermer announced his decision shortly after the successful return of the initial group of hostages from Palestinian territory.
In his resignation letter, posted late Tuesday, Dermer reflected on the “darkest day” of October 7, 2023, but asserted that Israel is now “powerfully positioned” to achieve lasting security and peace, praising Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “strong leadership.”
Dermer, who has held his post since 2022 and has spearheaded the truce talks despite limited military and public-facing experience, did not specify whether he would continue as lead negotiator in any future ceasefire phases.
Netanyahu publicly thanked Dermer for his “tremendous help.”
The resignation comes amid ongoing political pressure in Israel for the government to establish an independent inquiry into the failures surrounding the October 7 Hamas attack, which the government continues to defer until after the war concludes.
