Egypt Daily News – An informed Israeli source stated that the communications between the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and Hamas are extremely concerning, noting that Israel was aware of the American move.
The Israeli source, described by Yedioth Ahronoth as well-informed, stated that Israel had been informed of these contacts, which were conducted by Trump’s envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, adding that “from Israel’s perspective, this matter is extremely concerning.”
The source further explained that Boehler held several discussions with senior Hamas officials in Qatar. The official objective of these talks was to secure the release of American and Israeli hostages, both alive and deceased, while also delivering a message to Hamas that if they showed goodwill by releasing the hostages, it could pave the way for the second phase of a deal.
According to the source, “the Americans have prioritized the release of Idan Alexander, an American citizen, as their top priority, along with four other Americans who are presumed dead.”
The well-informed source also stated, “Boehler’s contacts have not led to any breakthroughs. From the outset, Israel was not enthusiastic about this channel and doubted it would yield results.”
Israeli Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, told Fox Business regarding the report, “President Trump’s administration has fundamentally changed its stance on Hamas. Instead of pressuring Israel, they are putting Hamas under pressure. We would all be happy to see the hostages return and reunite with their families in their homes. If this happens as a result of direct U.S.-Hamas negotiations, we would welcome it.”
Yedioth Ahronoth pointed out that “U.S. law prohibits negotiations with a terrorist organization, and Hamas is designated as such in the United States. However, there is an exception, as the U.S. President’s envoy for hostage affairs is authorized to negotiate for the release of American hostages.”
The report further noted that due to the deadlock in previous negotiations, the White House decided to attempt direct talks with Hamas leadership rather than relying on intermediaries. This explains why the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Whitcoff, has not yet arrived in the region—indicating that the U.S. seeks to exhaust Boehler’s option first.
Additionally, Axios reported that the Trump administration is secretly conducting direct negotiations with Hamas regarding the release of American hostages and a broader ceasefire agreement.
The administration’s efforts are aimed at securing the release of hostages held in Gaza and achieving a long-term truce between Hamas and Israel. However, no agreement has been reached between the U.S. and Hamas thus far.
