Tel Aviv [Israel], March 10: US hostage envoy Adam Boehler defended his direct talks with officials from the Hamas terror group, despite intense criticism from senior Israeli officials. Boehler’s remarks on Sunday, which included stating that the US is “not an agent of Israel,” reportedly surprised and annoyed Jerusalem.
The direct US-Hamas talks, held in parallel to indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt, were focused on securing the release of American hostages held in Gaza. Boehler emphasized that the ultimate goal was the release of all hostages, not just the American ones.
“We weren’t prepared to just sit back for two weeks,” Boehler told The Times of Israel, while refusing to specify the details of his meetings with Hamas or their duration. He hinted that there could be “real movement” in the coming weeks toward securing the release of hostages.
When questioned on whether he thought Hamas would eventually disarm and step away from Gaza’s political future, Boehler responded, “I do believe that.”
Boehler’s meetings primarily addressed the case of Edan Alexander, the only living American hostage, and the bodies of four Americans killed during the conflict. However, the envoy stressed that his efforts were intended to lead to a broader deal for the release of all hostages.
Boehler also mentioned a “Hamas proposal” that would involve a five- to ten-year truce with Israel, during which Hamas would disarm and refrain from political involvement in Gaza. He described this proposal as “not a bad first offer,” adding that it included the exchange of prisoners and assurances from the US and other countries that no military activities would take place in Gaza.
Boehler reassured the Israeli public, saying, “You do not need to have fear that the president of the United States, or I, or anyone in our administration will forget you.”