New details have emerged from Thursday night's tense cabinet meeting. Israel Hayom has learned that Dermer, a close confidant of Netanyahu, recommended that the cabinet resolution include a statement that Israel would no longer agree to a partial deal with Hamas.
Dermer, who liaises with the Trump administration and also oversees the indirect negotiations with Hamas, presented his position during the opening session, when professional briefings were given by officials in their areas of responsibility.
He explained that his stance stems from concern that a partial deal followed by a return to fighting would take so long that the Trump administration would no longer tolerate the continuation of Israel's war in Gaza. When one minister asked what Israel would do if Hamas offered a partial deal, Dermer replied, "We don't have time for that." This appears to be the first time a senior Israeli official has voiced explicit concern that Trump might set limits on the war's duration.
In response to Netanyahu's direct question, "Should we tell the Americans we are ready only for a comprehensive deal?", Dermer said yes. Hanegbi countered that Trump is a friend of Israel and would never turn against it. Hanegbi, who had recently joined Dermer in meetings in Washington in the last few weeks, added that the "Hostages must not lose even a fingernail," and argued that Israel should therefore be willing to accept any kind of agreement.
Dermer replied, "Your proposal is very harmful." Minister Eli Cohen backed him, saying, "The way we are handling the hostage issue is inviting future kidnappings. We keep signaling to Hamas that we won't break them."
Despite these exchanges, Netanyahu sided with Hanegbi and Shas party chairman MK Aryeh Deri, who also opposed ruling out a partial deal with Hamas. Likud ministers then aligned themselves with Netanyahu's stance.
