Netanyahu approves talks for 2nd phase of Gaza ceasefire despite allegations he wants return to war

As negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire are getting underway, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is shaking up Israel’s negotiating team, strengthening accusations he seeks to torpedo the ceasefire and return to war.

Just before the start of the talks, Netanyahu informed Mossad chief David Barnea, who had led the team, that he would work under Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer from now on.

According to a report by Channel 12, Barnea and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) hostage point man Nitzan Alon would stay on the team, but the leadership would pass to Dermer, who is widely seen as Netanyahu’s most important confidante and has long-standing relations with officials in the new administration.

The second-phase talks are expected to be conducted mainly via shuttle diplomacy by U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

The discussions officially began with Netanyahu’s meeting with Witkoff in Washington on Monday.

They were joined by U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Dermer, Israel’s U.S. Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, and Israel’s National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi.

“The meeting was positive and friendly,” Netanyahu’s office stated, adding that “Israel is preparing for the working-echelon delegation to leave for Doha at the end of this week in order to discuss technical details.”

“Upon his return from the US, Prime Minister Netanyahu will convene the Security Cabinet to discuss Israel's overall positions regarding the second stage of the deal, which will guide the continuation of the negotiations,” the statement read.

In addition to changing the leadership, Channel 13 reported Monday that Netanyahu informed Shin Bet director Ronen Bar he would reconsider the composition of the team ahead of the talks about the ceasefire’s second phase, indicating that Bar would be removed.

The report said the conversation was “difficult and charged,” and that Bar left the meeting upset.

“This is Netanyahu's way of torpedoing the path to the next phase of the deal,” sources on the negotiating team claimed.

Channel 13 also said Bar told close associates recently that he would not follow the example of IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and stay in his job for now, in order to take part in the negotiations for the second phase, and to make sure that the ceasefire won’t end after the first phase.

Meanwhile, the report cited sources close to Netanyahu saying, “It is not certain that he wants to continue to the next phase at this time.”

While achieving the goal of returning all the hostages, the second phase of the ceasefire also leads directly to the end of the war.

Netanyahu has claimed he doesn’t plan to end the war without reaching the war’s other declared goals of destroying Hamas’ military and governmental capabilities.

The prime minister repeatedly clashed with the members of the negotiation team, some of whom reportedly want to continue to the deal’s second phase and end the war.

Channel 12 reported that with the nomination of Dermer as the team leader and the removal of Bar, Netanyahu intends to keep his options open.

“This move has very complex implications and could sabotage the deal - and perhaps even torpedo the completion of its first phase,” sources told Channel 12, adding that this signaled the shift of the negotiations from the area of security to politics.

Hostages and Missing Families Forum criticized the reported moves: “We do not understand what the prime minister is doing in the middle of a process of releasing hostages. Removing both the head of the Mossad and the head of the Shin Bet could jeopardize the entire process.”