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Thursday, October 16, 2025
Report: Dermer told Witkoff, Kushner that Hamas violating deal by withholding bodies of hostages
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Strategic Affairs Adviser Ron Dermer told top White House advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner yesterday that Hamas is violating the ceasefire agreement, according to Channel 12.
The Commander of US Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, was also on the call, per the report.
The US is publicly insisting that Hamas is in compliance with the deal and is simply unable at this time to hand over any more bodies of hostages.
Kushner responded that intelligence on the location of the hostages should be given to Hamas, and then it will be clear based on Hamas’s actions whether it is trying to recover all the slain hostages, according to the outlet.
The three officials spoke today by phone as well.
While Washington insists that all the remaining slain hostages must be returned, it wants to move to talks on the second phase of the ceasefire deal before everybody is returned.
The Trump administration wants to start rebuilding Rafah as an example for what Gaza can become if the deal is completed and Hamas is disarmed, reports the outlet.
The Times of Israel Community.