US, Hamas officials held talks in Qatar multiple times: Israeli media
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US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Adam Boehler, tells Israeli media that the administration has held direct talks with Hamas, aiming to secure the release of American captives and others.
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A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, on Saturday, February 22, 2025. (AP)
The US administration engaged in discussions with Hamas in Qatar, with Donald Trump's key message being his expectation of concrete steps before advancing to the next phase of talks, Israeli media outlet i24NEWS has reported, citing informed sources.
A source familiar with the meetings stated that "Israel was informed of the discussions but not provided with all the details." According to the report, Washington has pushed for the release of Israeli-American soldier Aidan Alexander, along with other captives.
However, US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, canceled his planned visit to Qatar due to a lack of progress in negotiations. Meanwhile, US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Adam Boehler, confirmed to i24NEWS on Wednesday that the administration had held direct talks with Hamas, aiming to secure the release of American captives and others.
The report noted that Boehler had met senior Hamas officials in Qatar multiple times, with discussions focused on a potential prisoner exchange. "The message to Hamas was clear: show goodwill so we can move forward," the source stated.
However, Trump told the Palestinian resistance movement that he would authorize fresh Israeli strikes on Gaza unless the group released the remaining Israeli captives.
A shift in US policy?
In a related development, Israeli Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, told Fox Business that the Trump administration had "dramatically shifted its stance on Hamas," opting to pressure the group directly rather than pushing Israel to take action.
Meanwhile, a senior Palestinian Resistance leader told Al Mayadeen on Wednesday that Israeli officials were surprised by the US-Hamas meetings, which reportedly took place at Washington’s request.
The official confirmed that the US envoy exclusively discussed a prisoner exchange without addressing a ceasefire in Gaza or an end to the war. While no concrete proposals were made, the US delegation listened to Hamas’ position on the matter.
According to the Resistance leader, the American envoy left the meeting with a positive impression, believing that negotiations with Hamas could be feasible.
Separately, Axios reported, citing two sources, that the Trump administration had conducted direct and secret negotiations with Hamas regarding captives held in Gaza.
Political correspondent Barak Ravid noted that these unprecedented talks marked a shift in US policy, as Washington has officially designated Hamas a "terrorist organization" since 1997. The discussions, held in recent weeks in Doha, focused partly on securing the release of American detainees, but no agreement has been reached yet.
While the Trump administration reportedly consulted "Israel" on the possibility of engaging with Hamas, sources indicated that Israeli authorities learned about aspects of the talks through other channels.
Read more: Israeli gov. unilaterally agrees to US proposal for truce extension
