The Trump administration is holding direct talks with Hamas, marking the first time the US has ever engaged directly with the Palestinian group, Axios reported on Wednesday.
The report, which has been confirmed by the White House, said the talks were focused on the release of the bodies of four Israeli hostages held in Gaza who have US citizenship and a US citizen who is believed to be alive, 21-year-old Edan Alexander, who grew up in New Jersey and moved to Israel after high school to join the Israeli military.
The report said the US and Hamas are also discussing the possibility of reaching a broader deal on a permanent truce, although Israel has severely violated the agreement reached in January and has now imposed a total siege on aid and all other goods entering Gaza with full US backing.
The talks have been held in Doha, Qatar, in recent weeks between Adam Boehler, President Trump’s special envoy for hostages, and Hamas officials. One source told Axios that while the US consulted Israel about the possible talks, Israel learned about them through other channels.
An Israeli source told The Times of Israel that the possibility of direct talks between the US and Hamas came up during the Biden administration, but Israel expressed its opposition. The source said Israel didn’t think it was in the position to oppose the idea under the Trump administration and said that Israeli officials weren’t fully briefed on Boehler’s talks with Hamas ahead of time.
A Hamas source told Al Arabiya that the group has had direct contact with Adam Boehler as well as President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, which was not mentioned in the Axios report. Back in January, Hamas said it was ready to engage directly with the US, and the idea was welcomed by Witkoff.
While the Trump administration is engaging in diplomacy with Hamas, President Trump has repeatedly threatened the group, vowing there will be “hell to pay” if the hostages aren’t released. He has also repeatedly called for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza to make way for his plan for a US takeover of the Strip.
The Trump administration has also emboldened Israel by providing billions in new military aid as it threatens to restart its genocidal war and is in blatant violation of the ceasefire deal reached in January.
We live in interesting times.
Which means the US can make a deal directly with Hamas that Israel can violate and ignore.
Like they wouldn’t anyway.
"US can make a deal directly w/Hamas that Israel can violate and ignore."
Tryna' think this one through…
Can imagine domestic political pluses for getting back US hostages – alive…even bodies…
Can imagine behind-the-scenes threats or empty commitments in order to get back hostages…
But then, you'd think Hamas would be able to see around that corner…demand the US use its obviously great power w/Israel publicly andin advance…which would be unpopular w/the US Zionist base…
…But then what's point of talking w/Hamas at all?
To put dealing w/Putin in an 'America negotiates w/its adversaries,' or 'America first' frame?……
To say, 'Hamas wouldn't negotiate w/us when they had chance – so now they get "hell"'?
???
Israel will be there for sure. It has its tentacles on BOTH Hamas and the USA. The famous line in The Godfather about "making a deal he can't refuse" sort of comes into play here, though not as you think. Israel fights wars with "deception" by their own admission, and this Hamas/USA "talking" will propose a deal that CAN'T be accepted! It's a setup. Trump should do it the "Godfather" way – "I'll give Nutty Yahoo and those Hamas terrorist guys a deal they BOTH can't refuse!" But noooo! Do you actually think Israel did NOT have a say in this matter? It's a deal that can't be accepted and a ticket to more war!
$100,000 from Mrs. Adelson determines where things go.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fbe5df566dd64e70803f4028bcd3f875e21f8e711fc4a7b5eecbb3f3aa6a2c38.jpg
Hamas is a national liberation movement. As part of its policy it strictly stays out of the affairs of Arab countries and learned from the experiences of Fatah and the PA. To gain allies and legitimacy it has always been willing to talk to anyone. From their vantage it is a way to exploit a wedge between the US and Israel. In fact Israel according to reports at one point was willing to sit down directly with Hamas over the ceasefire agreement but Hamas refused. Although Hams knows very well that the US cannot be trusted, it is the first time since the US placed it on the terrorist list in the 90's that the US is willing to talk directly. This could be significant. All these openings became possible because Israel after October 7th exposed itself for what it truly is; a genocidal, apartheid lunatic state.
U.S.S. Liberty
US citizen who is believed to be alive, 21-year-old Edan Alexander, who grew up in New Jersey and moved to Israel after high school to join the Israeli military.???
Representative Mast comes to work with Israeli wearing a Israeli uniform?
It's more like US holding direct face to face bullying with Hamas…! Talks are two ways…!
Trump: release all hostages tomorrow or all Palestinians are dead.
Hamas; See ya.
"US holding talks"? Meaning Trump gives orders and the Trump puppets better deliver.
Everything, I really mean just about everything revolves about Trump. It is never ending, he is either God for half of the country and the devil for the other half of the country. How long can that go on?
Less than four years…! Patience is the virtue…!
If they don't apologize, say thank you, and return the hostage cadaver ASAP he may well send Chainsaw Elon and side-kick, Big Balls to do the job.