Minister Ron Dermer quietly traveled to the UAE for talks on Gaza and the hostage crisis, as Hamas confirmed acceptance of a partial deal involving 28 hostages during a 60-day ceasefire.
Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates, leading a diplomatic delegation for high-level meetings with Emirati officials, Kan Reshet Bet reported Tuesday. The discussions reportedly centered on the ongoing war in Gaza and the urgent need to secure a hostage release agreement.
The visit came shortly after UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed held a meeting with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, a move that sparked frustration in circles close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who—nearly four years after the Abraham Accords—has yet to make a public visit to Abu Dhabi.
Hamas Confirms Acceptance of Deal
Meanwhile, Hamas leader Bassam Na’im confirmed Monday that the terror group had accepted the latest ceasefire and hostage deal proposal presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Israel also confirmed receipt of Hamas’s official response.
The framework is based on the outline advanced by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff:
- 10 living hostages released.
- 18 bodies of murdered hostages returned.
- A 60-day ceasefire during which negotiations for broader terms would begin.
Diplomatic Crossroads
Dermer’s secret diplomacy and Hamas’s acceptance of a partial deal highlight a critical moment in regional maneuvering: the UAE positioning itself as a key interlocutor, Washington pressing for incremental agreements, and Netanyahu facing political turbulence at home over the pace and terms of negotiations.
