In 1st, US holding secret direct talks with Hamas aimed at freeing American hostages, deal to end war

The Trump administration is holding direct talks with Hamas aimed at securing the release of American hostages held in Gaza as well as a broader deal to end the war, Axios reports, citing two sources with direct knowledge of those negotiations.

A source familiar with the matter confirmed the report to The Times of Israel.

The secret talks being held by Trump’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler are unprecedented, as the US has never before engaged directly with Hamas, which Washington designated as a terror group in 1997.

The talks have been taking place in Doha in recent weeks, Axios says, adding that no deal has been reached.

In January, senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouq said publicly that the terror group is prepared to open a dialogue with the Trump administration.

While the US consulted with Israel about the possibility of engaging in talks with Hamas, Israel only learned about specific aspects through other channels, Axios says.

There is one remaining American hostage in Gaza who is believed to still be alive, Edan Alexander. Hamas is also holding the bodies of American-Israeli hostages Itay Chen, Gad Haggai, Judi Weinstein and Omer Neutra.

The Trump administration’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff was planning to meet with Qatar’s prime minister in Doha Thursday, but has held off on doing due to the lack of progress in the hostage talks more broadly, the source confirmed to The Times of Israel.

The Prime Minister’s Office and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.