Under the Trump administration, U.S. officials have initiated direct talks with Hamas, signaling a shift in U.S. policy toward the organization. These discussions focus on releasing hostages held by Hamas, with U.S. special envoy Adam Boehler leading negotiations in Qatar. This approach contrasts with the Biden administration's reliance on outside mediators for engagement with Hamas. The unexpected meetings surprised Israeli officials, particularly Prime Minister Netanyahu, who learned about the negotiations only after they had occurred, raising concerns about potential political repercussions in Israel.
The first known meeting between a U.S. official and a Hamas representative occurred recently in Doha, Qatar, where U.S. special hostage envoy Adam Boehler was meeting to discuss hostage releases.
Netanyahu was not informed of the talks through official channels before they took place and was caught off guard, said an Israeli with knowledge of the matter.
Collection
[
|
...
]