The White House confirmed that the Trump administration has embarked on direct talks with Hamas, saying that discussions aligned with American interests.
Following this, President Donald Trump threatened the Palestinians to Gaza with deadly consequences if not all captives were released.
Here is what we know:
What do we know about American direct talks?
The discussions, facilitated by Qatari intermediaries, would continue for weeks, but will become more obvious in early March 2025.
This is the first time in decades that the United States has been negotiating directly with Hamas, a significant gap in American policy, which has excluded direct commitment with the group which it appointed a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in 1997.
Instead, he relied on intermediaries – more recently Qatar and Egypt – to communicate with Hamas.
They focused on securing the release of Edan Alexander, 21, the only Israeli-American captive who would still be alive, as well as the bodies of four other Israeli Americans who were taken to Gaza on October 7.
Axios, who first pointed out the talks, also said that discussions included a possible larger agreement to release all the remaining captives and establish a long -term truce.
The Wall Street Journal reported that talks had taken place last month in Doha and led to the liberation of Sagui Dekel Chen, a double Israeli citizen on February 15.
Who is Adam Boehler?
Adam Boehler, the American presidential envoy for hostage affairs, led direct talks with Hamas.
He was also a key negotiator on Abraham’s agreements during Trump’s first term, working to extend the normalization of Israel with the Arab world.
What does Trump said?
Following the report, Trump issued a strong warning to Hamas in an article on social networks on Wednesday, demanding immediate release of all captives.
He addressed the inhabitants of Gaza directly. “Also, to the inhabitants of Gaza: a beautiful future is waiting, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are dead! Make an intelligent decision, ”wrote Trump.
He said he would send to Israel “everything he needs to finish work” and warned: “No member of Hamas will be safe if you don’t do what I say.”
Trump pleaded for the ethnic cleaning of the Gaza population and the United States “take over” from the Palestinian territory, adding later that his “plan” would not allow the Palestinians to return home to Gaza.
How did Hamas react?
There was no official Hamas response to reports from talks.
An official of Hamas told the Associated Press news agency that the talks focused on the release of Israeli captives and were “promising”.
Responding to Trump’s threats, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said that they “complicate the questions concerning the cease-fire agreement and encourage (Israel) to refrain from implementing his conditions,” according to the Anadolu news agency.
“Hamas has implemented all its obligations under the first phase, but Israel avoids entering phase two,” added Qassem. “The American administration is required to put pressure on the occupation to enter negotiations for the second phase.”
How many captives are currently held by Hamas?
Israel says that 59 captives are still detained in Gaza, 24 of which would be alive. He says that the bodies of at least 35 others remain in the care of Hamas.
Hamas captured about 250 captives during their attack on southern Israel, according to the Israeli government. More than 100 were released during a truce of a week at the end of 2023.
In February, during the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 25 live captives and the bodies of eight others in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been negotiated with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the United States. The exchanges of captive prisoners, the delivery of humanitarian aid and a break in military operations marked the first phase.
The discussions on the advancement of the second phase of the agreement – which implies the release of the remaining 59 captives, a withdrawal of the Israeli troops from Gaza and a permanent end to war – were retained by Israel.
How did Israel react to talks?
The Trump administration would have consulted Israel about potential direct commitment with Hamas. However, according to Axios, the Israelis learned the aspects of talks through other channels.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “Israel was consulted on this subject.”
The office of the Israeli Prime Minister has published a statement saying that she “expressed her opinion” in the United States.
The Consul General of Israel in New York, Ofir Akunis, told Fox News: “There is a new attitude of the White House … against Hamas. They can speak with Hamas, it’s okay.
What is the next step?
Despite direct talks, the Gaza ceasefire is in limbo.
Hamas responded to Trump’s threats saying that the United States supports Netanyahu’s attempts to get out of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement and starve and besiege the Palestinians in Gaza.
Egypt also suggested that Israel does not seek to respect its end of the agreement.
“So far, only the first phase has been implemented, but now a party is trying to withdraw from its obligations,” said Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdeatty on Wednesday.
A derailed ceasefire could be disastrous for the Palestinians in Gaza who have undergone almost 17 months of Israeli attacks and siege tactics.
On Sunday, Israel said that it would block all the assistance to Gaza to put Hamas pressure to accept an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire, immediately causing food prices in Gaza. Even during the ceasefire, residents reported Israeli artillery fires and air attacks against Gaza.
The first phase of the ceasefire expired on March 1. The American special envoy Steve Witkoff proposed to extend the one of six weeks. Netanyahu accepted the proposal, but Hamas opposed it, calling for the agreement to go to the second phase as previously agreed.
