Hamas leader confirms direct talks with Washington

A senior Hamas official has confirmed that exploratory direct negotiations took place in Doha with a U.S. envoy, marking an unprecedented dialogue between the two sides.

The discussions, held in the Qatari capital, were led by Adam Bohler—President Donald Trump’s special envoy for hostage affairs—and came shortly after Trump urged Hamas to offer a goodwill gesture by releasing American detainees, Caliber.Az reports, citing Palestinian media.

Exploratory talks in Doha

A Hamas leader revealed in exclusive comments to “Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed” that the meeting, held in Doha, was intended as an initial step towards establishing direct dialogue with the United States. The talks followed Trump’s recent call for a positive initiative from Hamas, which included the release of hostages with American citizenship.

Goodwill gesture and prisoner release

In a move to build confidence in the ceasefire process, Hamas released an Israeli prisoner—who also holds U.S. citizenship—as part of the sixth batch in a prisoner exchange deal. This package was an element of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which, despite its duration of 42 days, has yet to be succeeded by a broader deal due to delays and disputes on the Israeli side.

Negotiating a comprehensive deal

According to the Hamas official, the discussions in Doha centered around a comprehensive agreement aimed at ending the hostilities. The proposal included a plan for releasing between four and six American hostages, who were captured as combatants during military engagements rather than civilians. This approach contrasts with earlier attempts under the Biden administration, which had been stymied by the complications arising from the involvement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Context and repercussions

Earlier reports, including from the American outlet Axios, indicated that recent weeks had seen direct and unprecedented talks between Hamas and U.S. representatives. These discussions were part of a broader initiative to secure the release of American detainees in Gaza while paving the way for an expanded ceasefire agreement. However, the United States had never previously engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas—a group designated as a terrorist organization since 1997.

Continuing regional tensions

Despite the ongoing ceasefire, the situation in Gaza remains dire. Israel has halted humanitarian aid to the region, resulting in the displacement of approximately 1.9 million Palestinians—roughly 90% of Gaza’s population—and raising fears of an impending humanitarian crisis. Hamas leader Osama Hamdan criticized Netanyahu’s recent decisions, arguing that they signal an attempt to deliberately undermine the ceasefire and avoid meaningful negotiations for a second phase of the agreement.

By Khagan Isayev