The confidential discussions between the United States and Hamas have encountered difficulties following their disclosure to the press on Wednesday, according to a government official familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Times of Israel.
This rare dialogue has primarily revolved around securing the freedom of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, in addition to recovering the remains of American-Israelis Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai, and Judi Weinstein, the official revealed.
Israel was not kept fully informed about the discussions in advance, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is displeased that they are taking place, the official noted. Following the Axios report that broke the news about the direct engagement between the US and Hamas, Netanyahu’s office issued a brief response stating, “Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas.”
Despite speculation, the official dismissed claims that progress had been achieved in the negotiations or that they had shifted toward discussing the second phase.
President Donald Trump’s special envoy for hostages, Adam Boehler, has been leading these discussions on behalf of Washington, and they have been happening in Doha, the official confirmed.
This development marks a shift from the US’s longstanding policy of refusing to negotiate directly with Hamas, an organization classified as a terrorist group by Washington and numerous Western nations.
Though the primary objective remains the hostages, reports indicate that the US has also suggested a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release ten Israeli captives, Sky News Arabic reported on Thursday.
At the same time, Hamas representatives accused President Trump on Thursday of making statements that emboldened Israel to resist negotiations over the next phase of a ceasefire agreement.
Trump’s remarks would “complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told CNN, calling on the president to pressure Israel into accepting the second phase “as stipulated in the agreement.”
Another Hamas representative, Abdel-Latif al-Qanua, told Reuters that Trump’s threats amounted to backing Netanyahu’s efforts to sidestep another ceasefire agreement.
“The best track to release the remaining Israeli [hostages] is by [Israel] going into the second phase and compelling it to adhere to the agreement signed under the sponsorship of mediators,” he stated.
Hamas’s comments followed a stern ultimatum issued by Trump on Wednesday, warning the terror group to release all remaining hostages immediately or face destruction.
“‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Release all of the hostages now — not later — and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you.
“This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.”
The post came shortly after Trump met with eight released hostages in the Oval Office and as negotiations between Israel and Hamas stalled following the expiration of the initial ceasefire phase on Saturday.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Hamas to take Trump’s warning seriously, telling Fox News: “People don’t realize the President meets with these people, he hears their stories; he’s outraged and rightfully so.
“He’s tired of watching these videos every weekend where hostages that are emaciated are released and bodies are turned over, and sometimes it’s the wrong bodies and there’s five here and three there and there’s games that are being played. And he’s lost his patience with it.”
“He doesn’t say these things and not mean it, as folks are finding out around the world. If he says he’s going to do something, he’ll do it. And so they’d better take that seriously.”
Trump has made several demands of Hamas over the past few months, with limited success. Before he took office, he warned Hamas to release all hostages or face severe consequences. While the terror group did not comply entirely, a multi-stage ceasefire arrangement was reached, allowing the release of 33 captives in multiple rounds.
Last month, when Hamas threatened to withhold a group of hostages, citing Israeli violations of the deal, Trump responded with another ultimatum, insisting that all hostages be freed by noon on Saturday. Hamas did not comply fully but did release the three hostages it had previously agreed to free.
“I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job; not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say,” Trump declared in his latest warning on Wednesday.
Since taking office, Trump has approved over $11 billion in arms sales to Israel, including a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs that the Biden administration had held back due to concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza.
Referring to his recent meeting with the freed hostages, Trump wrote: “whose lives you have destroyed… Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!”
“Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER,” he warned.
Trump’s ultimatum came amid intense uncertainty for the families of the hostages.
As the first phase of the agreement concluded on Saturday, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement indicating that Israel had accepted a proposal from Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, which aimed to extend the ceasefire under the terms established in January.
Although Israel agreed to these conditions—including provisions for further negotiations regarding phase two—Netanyahu has repeatedly maintained that he will not conclude the war until Hamas’s military and administrative infrastructure is dismantled. For this reason, he largely resisted engaging in discussions over the second phase.
The “Witkoff proposal,” which Netanyahu disclosed on Motzoei Shabbos, suggested prolonging the ceasefire through Pesach and Ramadan, ending on April 19. Under this arrangement, the remaining hostages would be released in two separate waves—one at the start of the extension and the second at its conclusion—dependent on further agreements for a lasting ceasefire.
Hamas swiftly rejected the offer, insisting that it would only release additional hostages under the original agreement reached in January. Israel responded by threatening to resume hostilities and, on Sunday, announced it would block all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza moving forward.
While an Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel that the proposal was largely an Israeli initiative, the Trump administration quickly aligned itself with Israel and issued a statement affirming its support for Netanyahu’s position in the hostage negotiations.
{Matzav.com Israel}