Israeli source: Dermer-Witkoff approach failed, PM aimlessly drawing out hostage talks

An Israeli source familiar with the hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas tells Channel 12 that the approach led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff has failed.

The pair sought to advance an extension to phase one, amid Israel’s refusal to begin implementing phase two. Hamas refused to accept this, leading Israel to resume fighting this week with the Trump administration’s backing.

The military pressure over the past year led Hamas to agree to a hostage deal in January but Israel’s approach since then has led to the erosion of those military achievements, the source tells Channel 12.

The source says Dermer is not keeping up with the speed at which the previous Israeli negotiating chiefs worked and is instead flying to Washington next week with National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi to discuss other issues.

Things are again being dragged, the source laments. “If there is no agreement very soon, we will slide into a full return to war. Instead of dedicating time to intensive negotiations and reaching agreements, [Israel] is stringing the talks along aimlessly.”