Exclusive: U.S. holding secret talks with Hamas
Barak Ravid
The Trump administration has been holding direct talks with Hamas over the release of U.S. hostages held in Gaza and the possibility of a broader deal to end the war, two sources with direct knowledge of the discussions tell Axios.
Why it matters: The talks — held by U.S. presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler — are unprecedented. The U.S. had never before engaged directly with Hamas, which it designated a terrorist organization in 1997.
Behind the scenes: The meetings between Boehler and Hamas officials took place in Doha in recent weeks.
While the Trump administration consulted with Israel about the possibility of engaging with Hamas, Israel learned about aspects of the talks through other channels, one source said.
The sources spoke with Axios on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the sensitive meetings.
Zoom in: The talks have focused in part on the release of U.S. hostages, which is within Boehler’s remit as hostage envoy.
But they have also included discussions of a broader deal to release all remaining hostages and reach a long-term truce, the sources say. No deal has yet been reached.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff also planned to travel to Doha this week to meet the prime minister of Qatar about the ceasefire negotiations but canceled the trip on Tuesday night after he saw there was no progress from Hamas’ side, a U.S. official said.
Between the lines: Trump’s approach to the conflict has differed sharply from President Biden’s, including repeatedly threatening “hell to pay” for Hamas and proposing a U.S. “takeover” of Gaza.
Directly negotiating with Hamas — particularly without buy-in from Israel — is another step previous administrations have not taken.
State of play: 59 hostages are still held by Hamas in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces have confirmed 35 of them are dead. Israeli intelligence believes 22 hostages are still alive, and the status of two others is unknown.
Among the remaining hostages are five Americans including one, 21-year-old Edan Alexander, who is believed to be alive.
The 42-day ceasefire that was part of the first phase of the Gaza deal expired on Saturday after the parties couldn’t reach an agreement on extending it.
The fighting hasn’t resumed, but Israel halted all humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza where an estimated 1.9 million Palestinians — 90% of the population — have been displaced by the war, and famine looms.
Update: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the U.S. was holding direct talks with Hamas, and said Israel had been consulted.
She said Trump believes “it is the right thing for the American people” and added “there are American lives on the line”
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office said in a statement: “During talks with the U.S., Israel expressed its opinion about the issue of direct talks with Hamas”
Scoop: Israel objected to secret U.S.-Hamas talks in tense call
Israel’s concerns over the Trump administration’s secret negotiations with Hamas erupted in a contentious call Tuesday between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-hand man and the U.S. official leading the talks, an Israeli official and a source with knowledge of the call tell Axios.
Why it matters: When Trump aides sounded out Israeli officials in early February about the possibility of engaging directly with Hamas, the Israelis advised them not to do it — particularly not without preconditions. Israel found out through other channels that the U.S. was moving ahead anyway.
U.S. “not an agent of Israel,” envoy says amid objections to Hamas talks
Avery Lotz
U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler said Sunday that while he understands Israel’s concerns over direct talks with Hamas, the U.S. is “not an agent of Israel.”
The big picture: Hours after Boehler met with a senior Hamas political official, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-hand man Ron Dermer condemned the U.S. making proposals without Israel’s consent in an intense call last week, Axios’ Barak Ravid scooped.
Boehler assured that he was not close to a deal with Hamas after the meetings in Doha, which were largely centered around securing the release of American hostage Edan Alexander and the bodies of four deceased American hostages, sources told Axios.
Driving the news: But on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday, Boehler described the conversations with Hamas as “very helpful,” later saying he thinks “something could come together within weeks.”
He added, “I think there is a deal where they can get all of the prisoners out, not just the Americans.”
Friction point: Boehler said he’s “sympathetic” to top Israeli leaders’ disapproval of his meetings, but he emphasized the U.S. is “not an agent of Israel” with “specific interests at play.”
Boehler said he wanted to ascertain the vision of a “realistic” end-game for Hamas during the talks.
“The reality is what I wanted to do is jump start some negotiations that were in a very fragile place,” he said.
On “Fox News Sunday,” Boehler emphasized that dialogue “does not mean giving things.” He continued, “Dialogue … means sitting — hearing what someone wants and then identifying, does it fit with what we want or not and then how can you get somewhere in the middle and not have a war?”
Zoom out: The 42-day ceasefire that was part of the first phase of the Gaza deal expired just over a week ago after the parties could not agree on an extension.
A day after the agreement ended, Israel announced it would halt all humanitarian aid and fuel deliveries into Gaza, where some 90% of the population has been displaced amid war.
Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 35 of whom the Israel Defense Forces have confirmed are dead.
What’s next: White House envoy Steve Witkoff is now expected to travel to Doha Tuesday to push for a new hostage-release and ceasefire deal.
Taleb 𓂆 baslieb✌️
@taleb_b72
·
Mar 8
Trump’s negotiations with Hamas.
The world only deals with the strong
America threatens in public and negotiates in secret. It is not good intentions, but rather an attempt to get Netanyahu out of the impasse and break through the solid and firm position of resistance.
NDTV India
@ndtvindia
·
Mar 6
अमेरिका ने गाजा के बंधकों की रिहाई के लिए हमास से की सीक्रेट डील! रिपोर्ट के दावे ने चौंकाया
Voice of America
@VOANews
President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed that his administration was negotiating with Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group, to free the remaining hostages, and he doubled down on his earlier ultimatum that there would be “hell to pay” in Gaza if they were not released immediately.
“You’re going to find out,” Trump said from the Oval Office when asked by a reporter what he meant.
Trump highlighted his Wednesday meeting with freed Israeli hostages.
“I had the honor of spending a lot of time yesterday with quite a few of the people that we got out, and I can’t believe how badly treated they were,” he said.
Earlier Thursday, Steve Witkoff, the president’s special envoy to the Middle East, told reporters at the White House there could be “some action taken” by the administration that could be done “jointly with the Israelis.”
Mario Nawfal
@MarioNawfal
🚨🇮🇱🇵🇸 WHITE HOUSE ENVOY HEADING TO DOHA FOR NEW GAZA CEASEFIRE TALKS
White House envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Doha on Tuesday to push for a new ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas.
The Trump administration seeks a long-term truce that would extend the ceasefire past Ramadan and Passover, with five Americans among the remaining 59 hostages in Gaza.
Witkoff will join Qatari and Egyptian mediators, with Israel sending negotiators Monday.
Hamas has signaled willingness to cede governance of Gaza as part of a broader agreement.
Source: Axios
Mario Nawfal
@MarioNawfal
🚨🇵🇸HAMAS AGREES IN PRINCIPLE TO 2-MONTH CEASEFIRE EXTENSION IN GAZA TALKS
The agreement is made in exchange for the release of several hostages.
It was reached during Cairo negotiations with Egypt, and talks will continue Monday in Doha, with mediators from Israel, Hamas, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
Mario Nawfal
@MarioNawfal
🚨🇮🇱ISRAELI DELEGATION HEADING TO QATAR FOR U.S.-BACKED CEASEFIRE AND HOSTAGE TALKS
Netanyahu’s office confirmed that a delegation will travel to Doha tomorrow for negotiations aimed at extending the ceasefire and securing a hostage deal with Hamas.
The talks, backed by the United States, mark the latest attempt to advance a diplomatic resolution amid ongoing tensions.
Moh Musthafa Hussain
@musthafaaa
❗️Hamas confirms direct talks with US
Trump’s hostage affairs envoy sat down with group’s leaders.
US got NO ‘consent’ from Israel before holding meeting.
Mario Nawfal
@MarioNawfal
🚨🇺🇸HOMELAND SECURITY DETAINS COLUMBIA PRO-PALESTINE ACTIVIST—GREEN CARD REVOKED
Columbia University protester and recent graduate Mahmoud Khalil has allegedly been detained by the Department of Homeland Security in New York City after the U.S. State Department revoked his green card.
Khalil, who was actively involved in Pro-Palestine demonstrations at Columbia, claims DHS agents informed him of the decision before taking him into custody.
Source:
@ScooterCasterNY
, Freedom NewsTV
Mario Nawfal
@MarioNawfal
🚨🇺🇸SEC RUBIO: HAMAS RIOT LEADER ARRESTED—VISAS TO BE REVOKED, DEPORTATIONS COMING
Rubio has confirmed the Trump administration is revoking visas and green cards of Hamas supporters after a riot leader at Columbia University was arrested.
Pro-Hamas rioters took over university buildings, physically threatening those who resisted.
Mario Nawfal
@MarioNawfal
🚨🇺🇸SECRETARY RUBIO: ZERO TOLERANCE FOR TERRORIST SUPPORTERS IN THE U.S.
“Those who support designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas, threaten our national security.
The United States has zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists.
Violators of U.S. law—including international students—face visa denial or revocation and deportation.”
Secretary Marco Rubio
@SecRubio
Those who support designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas, threaten our national security. The United States has zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists. Violators of U.S. law — including international students — face visa denial or revocation, and deportation
Mario Nawfal
@MarioNawfal
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2. 🇵🇸Ceasefire Talks Continue — Hamas tentatively agreed to extend Gaza’s ceasefire by two months in exchange for hostages. High-stakes negotiations between Israel, Hamas, Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. will resume Monday in Doha.
3. 🇪🇸Madrid Women’s Day Protests — Thousands marched in Madrid on International Women’s Day, vowing to defend gender equality against political rollbacks.
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5. 🇸🇾Syria’s HTS members has executed 340 Alawites and unknown Christians in two days—validating Tulsi’s warning about jihadist control.
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7. 🇺🇸Tesla Protests Turn Violent — Protests over Elon’s role in Trump’s administration and budget cuts have escalated to arson, gunfire, and mass arrests at Tesla sites across the U.S. and Europe.
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Mario Nawfal
@MarioNawfal
🚨🇮🇱ISRAEL CUTS ELECTRICITY TO GAZA—PRESSURE MOUNTS ON HAMAS OVER HOSTAGES
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced the immediate shutdown of electricity to Gaza:
“We will operate all tools at our disposal to ensure the return of all hostages and that Hamas is not in Gaza the day after.”
This move comes as negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage deal continue, with Israel making it clear it won’t agree to permanently end the war.
Source: CNN
@Misra_Amaresh
@misra_amaresh
#Hamas statement: “If #Trump wants to solve #Israel’s dilemma forever, he must transfer #Israeli population to an American state! #America taking over Gaza undermines international law. Gazans did not move despite a genocide. Trump’s statement is foolish and bound to fail!”
NDTV India
@ndtvindia
·
Mar 6
🔴BREAKING | हमास के साथ गुप्त बातचीत कर रहा है अमेरिका, पहले कभी नहीं की बातचीत
KRK
@kamaalrkhan
Now President Trump has given a shocking news to Israel. Trump said:- Hamas people are nice people, so we are discussing with them directly. America is not the agent of Israel.🤪😁
