US in ‘Very Deep’ Negotiations With Hamas Over Hostages
US in intense talks with Hamas, Trump warns.
US President Donald Trump announced that the United States is engaged in "very deep" negotiations with Hamas to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, urging the Palestinian militant group to free all captives immediately. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump warned that failure to comply would lead to a “tough” and “nasty” situation, adding that Hamas was “asking for some things that are fine” without elaborating on the demands.
The negotiations follow Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw over 250 hostages taken to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths, displaced Gaza’s entire population, and triggered accusations of genocide and war crimes, which Israel denies. Currently, about 50 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, with roughly 20 believed to be alive, alongside several American captives, including Edan Alexander, thought to be among the living.
Trump, who campaigned on a promise to swiftly end the Gaza conflict, emphasized the urgency of releasing all hostages, including the remains of those deceased, stating, “Let them all out, right now, and much better things will happen for them.” His administration’s direct talks with Hamas, confirmed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, mark a break from longstanding US policy against negotiating with groups designated as terrorist organizations, a shift that began with secret talks in Doha led by hostage envoy Adam Boehler.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists the war will only end with the release of all hostages, Hamas’s disarmament, Israeli security control over Gaza, and the establishment of a new civilian administration. Hamas, however, demands a complete Israeli withdrawal and an end to the conflict. The US’s direct engagement, coordinated with Israel, has sparked both hope and concern, with analysts like Jonathan Panikoff noting potential risks of incentivizing future hostage-taking.
The talks come amid heightened regional tensions, with Israel blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza to pressure Hamas, prompting warnings from UN agencies about worsening conditions for Gaza’s 2.1 million residents. Trump’s involvement, including past efforts credited to advisors like Jared Kushner, underscores his administration’s focus on resolving the crisis, though a resolution remains elusive.
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