The U.S. is in direct talks with Hamas as it presses for the release of remaining U.S. hostages and a long-term end to the conflict in Gaza, the White House said Wednesday, marking the first time the U.S. has negotiated directly with Hamas since it was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (R) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the ... [+]
U.S. Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler has been leading the negotiations, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday, noting “Israel was consulted on this matter,” but declining to detail what the negotiations entailed.
Leavitt made the statement after reports earlier Wednesday that the U.S. was negotiating with Hamas for the release of remaining U.S. hostages and an expansion of the existing ceasefire or a permanent end to the war.
Qatari and Egyptian officials have been involved in facilitating negotiations between Hamas and the U.S. and Israeli governments because of the U.S.’s longstanding policy against negotiating directly with Foreign Terrorist Organizations, a designation the U.S. government gave to Hamas in 1997.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff cancelled a planned visit this week to Doha, Qatar, amid stalled progress in the negotiations with Hamas for an extended ceasefire, Axios reported, citing an unnamed U.S. official. Negotiations have reached a stalemate as Israel has called for an extension of the ceasefire until the Jewish Passover holiday in April, but Hamas has refused to agree to any additional hostage releases without a permanent solution to end the war, Reuters reported.
Hamas and Israel agreed to pause fighting for 42 days beginning Jan. 19 as part of a deal that included Hamas releasing 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinians held by Israel. The deal expired Saturday, but fighting hasn’t resumed. The Israeli government has said there are still 59 hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza as of Thursday, according to multiple reports. At least one American, 21-year-old Edan Alexander, is among the 24 hostages the Israeli government believes are still alive.
Israel Government Approves Gaza Ceasefire And Hostage Deal (Forbes)
Hamas Says It’s Delaying Next Round Of Israeli Hostage Releases (Forbes)
Trump Gaza Proposal: Netanyahu Praises Trump’s ‘Bold Vision’ For Gaza Takeover After Rubio Meeting (Forbes)