Trump Administration Holds ‘Secret’ Talks with Hamas on US Hostages Held in Gaza: Report- wna24

Washington: Since the ceasefire began, Hamas started releasing hostages. Reports now indicate that the Trump administration has been holding secret talks with the militant Palestinian group regarding the release of US hostages held in Gaza.

Adam Boehler, US special envoy for hostage affairs has been holding the direct talks with Hamas in recent weeks in Doha, the sources confirmed a reported by Axios.

The talks with Hamas have focused mainly on American hostages, but report indicates that discussions have also covered a broader deal to release all remaining hostages, aiming for a long-term truce.

However, no deal for release of hostages has been reached as of yet.

This talk is remarkable because the US has never engaged directly with Hamas before, having designated the group as a terrorist organization in 1997.

Such a talks contradict long-standing US policy, which opposes direct engagement with groups designated as terrorist organizations.

Steve Witkoff, the White House special envoy, planned to meet Qatar’s prime minister to discuss ceasefire negotiations but canceled the trip after observing a lack of interest from Hamas, according to a US official.

The previous US involvement in securing a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Gaza war focused on working with Israel, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators, without direct communications between Washington and Hamas.

The Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Boehler’s office declined to provide any remarks.

It remains unclear when or how the Israeli government was informed about the ongoing talks.