Netanyahu aide Ron Dermer steps down with hostages released

Israel's strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer, who also led negotiations for the Gaza ceasefire, has announced his resignation from his ministerial post following the return of hostages held in the Palestinian territory. Dermer, a close aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, spearheaded months of intense negotiations that resulted in the Gaza ceasefire and hos-

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Israel "What the future holds for the region, I don't know. But I know we have to secure the future."

tage exchange deal that took effect on October 10.

“This government will be defined both by the attack on October 7th and by the prosecution of the two-year (...) war that followed,” Dermer wrote in his resignation letter posted on X late on Tuesday.

“Two years later, we have dealt a devastating blow to Iran’s terror axis and are now powerfully positioned to usher in an age of secu-

rity, prosperity and peace,” he said, describing October 7, 2023 as the “darkest day” for the Jewish people since