Benjamin Netanyahu sends ‘Bibi’s brain’ to Trump as Gaza deal sparks clash

WASHINGTON, DC: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has turned to one of his most trusted Washington fixers as tensions with President Donald Trump grow over the future of Gaza.

Ron Dermer, the former Israeli ambassador to the US known as “Bibi’s brain,” has flown to Washington in an effort to calm US officials and prevent the disagreement from turning into a wider diplomatic crisis.

The move comes after Trump announced what he called a “historic” breakthrough involving Hamas, including a proposed weapons decommissioning process in return for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Ron Dermer returns to Washington for Netanyahu

Dermer is no stranger to high-stakes US-Israel negotiations. He served as Israel’s ambassador to Washington from 2013 to 2021 and later worked as Netanyahu’s strategic affairs minister.

He was also involved in the Gaza hostage negotiations that led up to last October’s deal before stepping down from his role in November.

His return to Washington now carries added significance because Netanyahu has pushed back against Trump’s latest Gaza framework.

Israel has said it was not consulted before Trump announced the agreement.

US officials, however, have disputed that claim, saying an Israeli delegation was present during the final negotiations in El-Alamein.

An Israeli government source described Dermer as someone who understands Washington better than almost anyone.

“No one understands or works with the Americans better than Dermer,” the source told The Telegraph.

Netanyahu faces pressure over Trump’s Gaza proposal

The disagreement puts Netanyahu in a difficult position.

Trump wants progress on his Gaza proposal, while Netanyahu has long promised total victory over Hamas and is facing opposition from his own ultra-nationalist coalition partners.

The proposed framework would involve Hamas handing over weapons to a Palestinian force and storing them in Gaza in exchange for a staged withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The plan uses the idea of a Northern Ireland-style decommissioning process rather than explicitly calling for “disarmament,” potentially allowing Hamas to avoid appearing defeated.

For Netanyahu, accepting the proposal could create political problems at home, while openly rejecting Trump risks damaging an already important relationship with Washington.

Israeli outlet Haaretz reported that US officials were “furious” over Netanyahu’s response, although Trump had not publicly criticized his ally over the disagreement.

Israel’s wider security picture adds pressure

The Gaza dispute comes as Israel also faces changes within its security establishment.

Roman Gofman, the newly appointed director of Mossad, has reportedly removed two senior officials who were involved in an unsuccessful plan to topple the Iranian regime.

One was understood to have headed Mossad’s intelligence directorate, while the other led its Iran division.

Both are reportedly expected to remain within the agency in other positions as part of a wider reorganisation.

Gofman’s appointment has already drawn criticism from Netanyahu’s opponents, who accuse the prime minister of trying to politicise Israel’s traditionally neutral security apparatus.