Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, who also served as the country’s lead negotiator for the Gaza ceasefire, has announced his resignation following the successful return of hostages held in the Palestinian enclave.
Dermer, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, led several months of high-stakes negotiations that culminated in a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal implemented on October 10, 2025.
In his resignation letter posted on X (formerly Twitter) late Tuesday, Dermer reflected on his tenure and the turbulent events that defined it.
“This government will be remembered for the October 7th attack and the two-year war that followed,” he wrote. “Two years later, we have dealt a devastating blow to Iran’s terror axis and positioned Israel for a new era of security, prosperity, and peace.”
Describing the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault as “the darkest day for the Jewish people since Israel’s creation in 1948,” Dermer said he remains committed to safeguarding Israel’s future despite stepping down.
“What the future holds for me, I do not know,” he added. “But I will always do my part to help secure the Jewish future.”
Although Dermer did not specify whether he would continue as lead negotiator in the ongoing talks toward a second phase of the Gaza truce, Netanyahu publicly thanked him for his service.
“Thank you for your tremendous help to me and to the State of Israel,” the Prime Minister wrote on X. “I’m sure you still have much more to contribute in the future.”
Dermer, 54, a Miami Beach native, has held the post of Strategic Affairs Minister since 2022. Despite criticism over his limited military experience and infrequent media appearances in Hebrew, he was appointed to head the truce talks in February 2025.
Since the implementation of the ceasefire, Hamas has released 20 living hostages and returned the remains of 24 others, with four bodies still pending recovery.
Meanwhile, a growing number of Israelis across the political spectrum have been demanding an independent inquiry into the government’s failure to prevent the October 7 Hamas attacks — the deadliest in Israel’s history. However, Netanyahu’s administration insists such a probe cannot be launched until the Gaza conflict is fully resolved.
