Interviewed on Channel 12, US hostage negotiations czar Adam Boehler appears to backtrack on comments he made earlier in the day regarding whether President Donald Trump had personally approved his direct negotiations with Hamas.
CNN’s Jake Tapper asked him earlier, “So you did get sign-off from President Trump ahead of time though?”
Boehler nodded three times and answered: “Of course.”
Asked by Channel 12’s Yonit Levy whether Trump “personally signed off” on his direct talks with Hamas, by contrast, Boehler replies, “The White House did. So that’s a group of folks. But people in the White House did know about me having those discussions, yes.”
Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff signed off on Boehler’s meeting with Hamas officials, a source familiar with the matter has told The Times of Israel.
Trump himself has publicly backed the talks, saying they were to Israel’s benefit because they are aimed at releasing Israeli hostages. Israeli officials have fumed privately over the US move, and some have publicly expressed worries that the US will concentrate on getting out Americans before other hostages.
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