White House confirms direct talks between US officials and Hamas in Doha

The White House has confirmed that US officials have engaged in direct talks with Hamas representatives in Doha, marking a significant departure from Washington’s longstanding policy of avoiding direct engagement with the militant group.

Speaking on March 5, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the US has been involved in "ongoing talks and discussions" with Hamas, facilitated by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The discussions come as efforts to maintain a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continue, with negotiations focused on securing the release of American hostages, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Leavitt declined to provide details on the substance of the discussions but emphasised that the Biden administration is acting in the interest of American citizens. “Look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what’s in the best interest of the American people is something that the president ... believes is a good-faith effort to do what’s right for the American people,” she said.

The talks, held in the Qatari capital last month, represent the first known direct engagement between the US and Hamas since the group was designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the State Department in 1997. Hamas officials confirmed that discussions with US envoys focused primarily on Israeli hostages with American citizenship.

“Several communications took place between Hamas and various American communication channels, the latest being with a US envoy and discussed the issue of Israeli prisoners who hold American citizenship, both the living and the deceased,” a Hamas official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A second senior Hamas representative confirmed that "two direct meetings between Hamas and US officials in Doha" had taken place in recent days. The official described the engagement as a positive step, though he noted that no significant progress had been made.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office acknowledged that the US had informed Israel of the discussions but did not elaborate on its stance. “Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas,” Netanyahu’s office said in a brief statement.

Adam Boehler, a former Trump administration official and the nominee for special envoy for hostage affairs, led the discussions. Boehler, known for his role in negotiating the Abraham Accords, was tasked with securing the release of American hostages held by Hamas.

The direct engagement comes amid uncertainty over the continuation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. A new ceasefire proposal, reportedly drafted by US envoy Steve Witkoff, calls for Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in exchange for an extension of the truce and further negotiations. However, Israel has not agreed to release additional Palestinian prisoners—an element that Hamas has insisted on as part of previous agreements.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that he will not pressure Israel to refrain from resuming military operations if Hamas rejects the ceasefire terms.

The news site Axios first reported on the talks between U.S. and Hamas officials earlier on March 5.

By Vugar Khalilov