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US envoy Adam Boehler described talks with Hamas in Doha as “very helpful,” stressing the US has its own interests and is not acting on Israel’s behalf. He expressed hope for progress on Gaza talks within weeks, while understanding Israel’s unease over the dialogue.
US envoy Adam Boehler said on Sunday that his meeting with the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas in Doha was “very helpful.” He indicated that while it is unknown whether he will negotiate with the group again, he will be in the region again and may meet with them.
In an interview with CNN, Boehler added, “I think we can get all the hostages out, not just the Americans,” expressing hope that progress on Gaza and detainees could be achieved “within weeks.”
He also acknowledged Israel’s consternation and concern over the US direct negotiations with Hamas, stating, “We’re the United States. We’re not an agent of Israel. We have specific interests at play, and we did communicate back and forth.”
Boehler emphasized the difficulty of reaching any kind of truce without understanding Hamas’s goals, adding, “What I wanted to do is jump start some negotiations that were in a very fragile place. And I wanted to say to Hamas, what is the end game that you want here?”
The White House confirmed last Wednesday that it had held direct talks with Hamas, following leaks reported by American and Israeli media.
White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt stated during a press conference that the Trump administration had engaged in direct discussions with Hamas and that the talks were ongoing.
Levitt noted that Israel had been consulted, though she did not specify the scope of the discussions with Hamas. She reiterated that dialogue with various parties worldwide to achieve the best interests of the American people is a priority for President Trump, who views these efforts as a good-faith effort to do what is right for the American people.
For its part, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed it was aware of Washington’s direct talks with Hamas and stated that Israel had conveyed its opinion on the matter to the Americans. The Israeli newspaper Israel Today quoted a source as saying, “Israel is deeply concerned about the Trump administration’s direct talks with Hamas.”
A Palestinian source familiar with the matter revealed that Boehler had met with Hamas officials in Doha weeks earlier. The source, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the discussions aimed to explore positions on a deal to release Israeli captives holding American citizenship. The source added that Hamas expressed its desire for a comprehensive deal to end the war, stressing the need to move to the second phase of the agreement.
It is worth noting that the American website Axios reported that Hamas still holds 59 captives in Gaza. The Israeli military confirmed that 35 of them had been killed, while Israeli intelligence believes 22 are still alive, with the status of two others unknown. Among the remaining captives are five Americans, including 21-year-old Edan Alexander, who is believed to be alive.
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which lasted 42 days, officially ended on March 1 after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on its extension.
