Trump administration's direct talks with Hamas mark major policy shift

The Trump administration has initiated direct talks with Hamas, marking a significant departure from long-standing US policy, which traditionally refrained from engaging with groups designated as foreign terrorist organizations.

The move comes as President Trump seeks to mediate a resolution to the Gaza conflict and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The first known meeting took place in Doha, Qatar, where US special hostage envoy Adam Boehler engaged in discussions with Hamas about the release of hostages. On March 5, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Boehler “has the authority to talk to anyone,” although she did not confirm specific details of the meeting. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were not informed of these talks beforehand and were caught off guard by the development.

The discussions are primarily focused on securing the release of American-Israeli hostages, including Edan Alexander, and the remains of four others: Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gad Haggai, and Judi Weinstein. Hamas, which the US designated as a terrorist organization in 1997, has been excluded from direct US talks ever since.

The Trump administration’s engagement with Hamas contrasts with the Biden administration's approach, which utilized third-party mediators like Qatar to facilitate discussions. While the US has historically avoided direct negotiations with groups labeled as terrorists, there have been exceptions. For example, the Reagan administration negotiated with Iran for the release of hostages, and the Obama administration engaged with the Taliban.

The Trump administration's talks with Hamas have received support from some allies, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), who expressed trust in Trump’s approach. Following his meeting with a small group of released hostages, Trump posted on Truth Social, urging Hamas to “release all of the hostages now, not later,” warning there would be “HELL TO PAY” if they did not comply.

By Vafa Guliyeva