US President Donald Trump has publicly expressed support for Adam Boehler’s talks with Hamas, a designation it received from the US in 1997. However, this stance is at odds with claims made by Israel that the administration never agreed to these secret negotiations.
Behind closed doors, Israeli officials have voiced their displeasure and anger over these talks, describing them as unauthorized by Israel. The issue arose when Boehler held multiple rounds of talks with Hamas officials in Doha, which has sparked tension among both right-wing Israelis and critics of Trump’s foreign policy in the US.
Despite concerns from Netanyahu’s right-hand man Ron Dermer, who claimed that the talks represented a breach of trust, Trump has defended these negotiations, stating they were aimed at helping Israel free its hostages. Boehler confirmed this in interviews with various media outlets, stating his mandate as hostage envoy included freeing all hostages and reaching a multi-year truce.
The talks are now expected to continue, with US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff joining the indirect Israel-Hamas negotiations in Qatar on Tuesday. The initial phase of a Gaza ceasefire ended on March 1, but there has been no resumption of violence. However, Israel has cut off humanitarian aid to Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas into making concessions.
The state of play is complex, with both sides holding different positions. Boehler emphasized the US’s non-partisanship in these negotiations, stating it was not acting as a representative for Israel. Meanwhile, Witkoff stressed the need for tangible concessions from Hamas if serious talks were to occur.
It remains to be seen whether these secret talks will yield any significant results or further escalate tensions between the US and Israel over this matter.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/03/10/us-hamas-talks-gaza-hostage-ceasefire-deal