White House confirms direct talks with Hamas in Doha

The White House said on Wednesday that U.S. special envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler has the authority to negotiate directly with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas after sources said Boehler was in discussions with the group about releasing Gaza hostages.

"When it comes to the negotiations that you're referring to first and foremost, the special envoy who was involved in those negotiations has the authority," White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt told reporters.

She added that Israel was consulted, and continued that Boehler's work was "a good faith effort to do what is right for the American people."

Earlier today, the American website Axios revealed that the administration of President Donald Trump held direct talks with the Hamas movement regarding the release of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip who hold American citizenship.

The American news website, quoting sources it said were “informed,” stated that the US Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Adam Boehler, held talks with Hamas officials in Doha in recent weeks.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive meetings, said the primary goal of the talks was the release of Israelis who hold American citizenship, part of Boehler's responsibilities.

She added that the talks also included a broader deal that would include the release of all remaining prisoners in Gaza and a long-term truce. She noted that no agreement was reached during those talks.

Unprecedented conversations

The sources said that the Trump administration consulted with Israel about communicating with Hamas, but Tel Aviv learned of the talks through private channels.

With American support, Israel committed genocide in Gaza between October 7, 2023 and January 19, 2025, leaving more than 160,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 14,000 missing.

With the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, Israel has once again closed all crossings leading to Gaza, to prevent the entry of humanitarian aid, in a move aimed at using starvation as a tool of pressure on Hamas to force it to accept its dictates.

Israel also threatens other escalatory measures, including cutting off water and electricity, up to resuming the war of genocide.

Source: Anadolu Agency + Axios