The Hamas terror organization proposed transferring control of the Gaza Strip to another party in exchange for a truce lasting between five and ten years, according to Adam Boehler, President Trump’s special envoy for hostage negotiations. Boehler shared this information during an interview with Israel Public Broadcasting, revealing that Hamas made the offer during direct discussions with the U.S. aimed at securing the release of both American and Israeli hostages still held by the group.
Boehler described these talks as “baby steps” but noted that Hamas put forward some ideas that seemed “reasonable” and “workable.” He acknowledged that the offer was “not a bad first offer.”
“They suggested a five-year to 10-year truce, where Hamas would lay down all … weapons, and where the United States would help, as well as other countries, ensure that there’s no tunnels, there’s nothing taken on the military side, and that Hamas is not involved in politics going forward,” Boehler explained.
Although Israel was reportedly unaware of the behind-the-scenes discussions between the U.S. and Hamas, Boehler clarified that he was coordinating with Israeli officials throughout the negotiations.
Boehler emphasized that the Trump administration’s priority was the release of the American hostages—at least one of whom is believed to be alive, while the others are thought to be dead—alongside the release of dozens of Israeli hostages taken during Hamas’s assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
“The president wants every single hostage home, and he wants a peace, a calm in this region, that’s what he wants,” Boehler stated.
These U.S.-Hamas talks marked a departure from traditional U.S. policy and were not aligned with the terms of a plan created by former President Biden, which took effect on January 19. Under Biden’s approach, further hostage releases were expected to be tied to Phase 2 negotiations aimed at ending the war.
In early February, Trump proposed that the U.S. take control of the Gaza Strip and transform it into the “Riviera” of the Middle East. He suggested that the nearly 2 million Palestinians be permanently relocated during the reconstruction process, without the option of returning. Arab nations presented an alternative proposal, but Trump rejected it, particularly due to provisions that would have kept Palestinians in Gaza.
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