Gaza peace talks, Oct. 6 -- As delegations from Israel and Hamas convene in Egypt to negotiate an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, attention has turned to the figures leading the talks: Ron Dermer for Israel and Khalil al-Hayya for Hamas.

Ron Dermer, 54, has been heading Israel's negotiating teams since February. Serving as the country's minister of strategic affairs, he is widely regarded as one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's closest and most trusted advisers.

Born and raised in Miami Beach, Florida, to a father who served as mayor, Dermer has cultivated strong ties with US politicians, particularly within the Republican Party. He previously served as Israel's ambassador to the US from 2013 to 2021.

Dermer's influence exte...