Senior Hamas official claims terror group holding direct talks with US on ending Gaza war

By Nurit Yohanan

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15 May 2025, 7:13 pm 1 Edit

Nurit Yohanan is The Times of Israel's Palestinian and Arab world correspondent

Basem Naim, a Hamas leader who is a former Gaza health minister, speaks during a press conference in Cape Town, South Africa, November 29, 2023. (Rodger Bosch / AFP)

Senior Hamas official Basem Naim claims to Sky News that the terror group is holding direct talks with the US to reach an agreement to end the war in Gaza.

The US has previously denied similar reports that it is engaging in direct talks with Hamas.

Naim also claims that Hamas is prepared to step back from governing the Gaza Strip should a permanent ceasefire be reached.

“We have also told the Americans, we are ready, again, to hand over the government immediately if we reach the end of this war,” he says.