True to its line of not engaging in talks with groups the US placed on the list of terrorist organizations, Washington, like other Western countries, had never held direct talks with Hamas. US online media Axios and the Reuters news agency revealed on Wednesday, March 5, that secret negotiations had nevertheless taken place in Doha, Qatar, in recent weeks, between the American special envoy for hostages, Adam Boehler, and the Palestinian Islamist group.

In particular, the two sides discussed the release of five US captives out of the 59 still held in Gaza, 35 of whom have been declared dead by the Israeli army. Of these US citizens, only one is believed to be alive: 21-year-old Edan Alexander. He appeared in a propaganda video broadcast by Hamas in November 2024. Negotiations would also have focused on the other hostages, as well as on the possibility of establishing a long-term truce.

Hamas officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Agence France-Presse on Wednesday that they had been in direct contact with Washington's emissary for the release of the US hostages. The Israeli prime minister's office issued a terse statement Wednesday evening, hinting at its disapproval: "Israel has informed the United States of its opinion on holding direct negotiations with Hamas."

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