Strategic Affairs Min. Dermer to meet Witkoff in London in attempt to restart hostage negotiations

Against the background of lingering tensions from the strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, as well as the start of the ground incursion into Gaza City, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer was scheduled to meet with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in London on Wednesday night, in an effort to renew negotiations for a hostage-ceasefire deal. 

The report on the meeting was published by Channel 12 News on Wednesday evening, which also noted that senior Qatari officials are in London, possibly to meet with Witkoff, although it is not known if they were participating in the meeting with Dermer. 

Channel 12 cited “a source familiar with the details” who said that the U.S. is currently mediating between Israel and Qatar in an attempt to bring the Qataris back to the negotiating table as mediators following the Israeli strike against Hamas in Doha.

That source told Channel 12 that the U.S. is urging Israel to take more concrete steps to repair the breach with the Qatari government following the strike. 

Channel 12 cited a different source, who said that the U.S. does not believe that negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a comprehensive deal can advance without addressing the tension following Israel’s strike. 

At the same time, Palestinian-American mediator Bishara Bahbah, who has participated in the negotiations between Hamas and the U.S., told Channel 12 News that he believes the negotiations can be restarted. 

On Wednesday evening, he blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the lack of progress in the negotiations, telling the outlet that the prime minister “is not interested in ending the war, and has no interest in the hostages.” 

Claiming to have spoken with Hamas leader just 45 minutes before his interview, Bahbah also said that Hamas has lost trust in the United States. 

“They no longer trust the United States; the guarantees that Washington offers do not hold water for them - trust has been completely broken,” he stated. 

He said that he believes the Hamas leadership wants to end the war; however, he warned that “Hamas will not surrender.” 

“Hamas will not surrender,” Bahbah told Channel 12. “They have many fighters and weapons. They are waiting for the IDF to enter in order to leave.” 

Bahbah called on both Israeli citizens to demand an end to the war, saying “Enough is enough,” while also pleading with the Hamas leadership. 

In a message to Hamas, he said, “You cannot allow the daily killings. You bear responsibility. Return to the negotiating table, let's behave like adults - for the sake of the people you claim to be fighting for. You are harming them.” 

Minister Dermer also met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and U.S. special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack as part of discussions regarding a security agreement between Israel and Syria. 

Washington has been pressuring Syria to reach a security agreement with Israel ahead of the UN General Assembly, with some leaders calling to condition the cancellation of sanctions against Syria on demonstrable progress towards an agreement. 

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Axios that he will be meeting with al-Shaibani to discuss lifting the sanctions against Syria, and noted that he would support such a move provided Syria officially participates in a security deal with Israel and joins a coalition to fight against Islamic State militias. 

Meanwhile, interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Wednesday that the negotiations between his country and Israel on a security understanding could see results “in the coming days.” 

The two sides have not yet reached an agreement, as al-Sharaa is demanding an end to Israeli airstrikes in Syria, the preservation of Syria’s territorial integrity, and UN monitoring of the border area.