Dermer Meets Witkoff in London to Discuss Possibility of Resuming Gaza Negotiations

SadaNews - Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, is meeting the U.S. presidential envoy, Steve Witkoff, tonight in London to discuss the possibility of resuming negotiations for a comprehensive deal that includes the release of all prisoners and ending the war on the Gaza Strip.

This was reported by Israel's Channel 12, citing sources it described as well-informed, on Wednesday evening. The report indicates that a high-level Qatari delegation is also present in the British capital and is expected to hold separate meetings with the U.S. envoy. The report highlighted U.S. efforts aimed at "restoring Doha's leadership in mediating between Israel and Hamas."

One source was quoted as saying that "the Americans are currently mediating between Israel and Qatar in an attempt to find a formula that allows for overcoming the crisis sparked by the Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Doha," noting that Washington is pressuring Tel Aviv to take steps aimed at reducing tensions and repairing relations with Doha.

Another source added that U.S. estimates indicate that there is a "window of opportunity over the next two weeks to resume negotiations between Israel and Hamas despite the start of the ground operation in Gaza City," but emphasized that achieving this "will not be possible as long as the ongoing crisis between Qatar and Israel persists."

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majid Al-Ansari, stated on Tuesday that the resumption of negotiations and mediation efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza and prisoners exchange does not seem realistic given Israel's desire to target the negotiator and the mediating country.

Qatar was subjected to Israeli aggression on Tuesday, September 9, targeting the assassination of leaders of the Hamas negotiating delegation present in Doha, but the movement promptly confirmed the failure of the operation and the survival of its leaders.

Later, Netanyahu threatened to target movement officials again. The Hamas delegation intended to discuss a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza before being attacked, but the assassination attempt disrupted the efforts aiming to stop the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

An emergency Arab-Islamic summit was held in Qatar's capital, Doha, on September 15, 2025, with the participation of leaders and heads of governments from 57 countries, in response to the Israeli aggression targeting Qatar on the 9th of the same month.

The summit demonstrated widespread solidarity with Doha, reflecting its regional and international status, as participants sought to formulate an impactful collective response and discussed the political and diplomatic measures to be taken against what they described as unprecedented Israeli aggression against a state serving as a mediator.

Official speeches during the summit emphasized the seriousness of Israeli policies, collectively condemning the targeting of a mediating state, and affirming that failing to respond would encourage Israel to persist in its aggressions against Arab and Islamic countries.