10
Loading video...
By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The Trump Administration is talking directly with Hamas over the release of U.S. hostages and a possible deal to end the war, White House press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Wednesday.
It marks the first time the U.S. has engaged directly with Hamas, a designated terror organization. Axios reported earlier on Wednesday that the talks are being held by Adam Boehler, the U.S. presidential envoy for hostage affairs.
Newsweek has emailed the White House and Israeli prime minister's press offices for comment.
Read More on News
What to Know
Leavitt declined to provide details on the talks, which come as the fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains uncertain. The press secretary noted that Israel has been consulted regarding the direct engagement with Hamas officials.
"Look dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what's in the best interest of the American people, is something that the president has proven is what he believes is (a) good-faith effort to do what's right for the American people," she said.
Axios reported that Boehler met with Hamas officials in Doha, Qatar, in recent weeks and that the Trump Administration had consulted with Israel about engaging with the group.
Why It Matters
There are 59 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, and five of them are Americans. They were taken hostage during Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
...
Israel has unveiled what it claims is a revised U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal—one it says differs from the agreement reached in January—and is ramping up pressure on Hamas by tightening its siege on the Gaza Strip.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the plan as the "Witkoff proposal," attributing it to Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy. However, the White House has yet to confirm the proposal's origins, stating only that it supports Israel's actions.
Netanyahu's announcement comes as the first phase of the previously negotiated ceasefire has concluded, leaving uncertainty over the next steps, with no finalized agreement in place for a second phase.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump mentioned hostages in his address to Congress on Tuesday evening. "In the Middle East, we're bringing back our hostages from Gaza," Trump said.
"In my first term, we achieved one of the most groundbreaking peace agreements in generations: the Abraham Accords. And now we're going to build on that foundation, to create a more peaceful and prosperous future for the entire region.
"A lot of things are happening in the Middle East. People haven't been talking about that so much lately, with everything going on with Ukraine and Russia, a lot of things are happening in the Middle East. A rough neighborhood, actually."
What Happens Next?
The ceasefire agreement brokered in January after more than a year of negotiations—mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar—outlined a three-phase plan aimed at securing the return of all hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and ending the war sparked by the attack.
On that day, Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and abducted 251 others. Over 100 hostages were freed during a previous ceasefire, while Israeli forces have since rescued eight and recovered dozens of bodies.
During the initial six-week phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 25 living Israeli hostages and returned the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces withdrew from most of Gaza, allowing a surge of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave. Despite mutual accusations of ceasefire violations, the agreement largely held.
The second phase was always expected to be far more challenging, as it forces Israel to choose between two of Netanyahu's key war objectives: securing the release of the remaining hostages or dismantling Hamas.
Hamas, which retains control over Gaza, has insisted it will only release the remaining hostages if Israel agrees to end the war—a move that would leave the militant group intact and still wielding significant influence over the territory, even if it formally hands over governance to other Palestinian factions, as it has suggested it might do.
Update: 3/5/25, 2:17 p.m. ET: This headline and article has been updated after White House press secretary confirmed the U.S.-Hamas talks.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines