United States Directly Talking to Hamas

(Patria) - The United States is talking directly with representatives of Hamas, an organization it considers terrorist, confirmed White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.

This communication is taking place while the future of the second phase of the truce agreement in Gaza, signed by Israel and Hamas with the mediation of the US, Qatar, and Egypt, is still unknown.

Leavitt declined to reveal details and specific topics of the talks.

"You know, you engage in dialogue and talk to people around the world to do what is in the best interest of the American people. That is something that the President has proven that he does with good intentions, that is an effort to do what is right for the American people," she said.

Leavitt added that the US has consulted Israel on direct communication with Hamas. The information about the US-Hamas talks was first published by the Axios website.

US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler has led direct negotiations with Hamas in Doha, Qatar, in recent weeks, Reuters sources said.

Until recently, the US avoided direct engagement with Hamas, which attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering a devastating war in Gaza.

Such talks contradict long-standing US policy against direct contact with groups that Washington considers terrorist organizations.

The US State Department designated Hamas as a terrorist organization in 1997.

Reuters sources said the talks focused on the release of American hostages still held in Gaza.

However, one of the sources said that a broader agreement on the release of all remaining hostages and how to achieve a long-term truce was also discussed.

One of the sources said that the topic of discussion was the attempt to release Edan Alexander from Tenafly, New Jersey, believed to be the last living American hostage in Hamas captivity. He appeared in a video released by Hamas in November 2024.

Israeli authorities have declared four other American hostages dead in absentia.