Trump Defends Direct US-Hamas Talks Amid Israeli Opposition
US President Claims Negotiations Aim to Free Israeli Hostages
US-Hamas talks
US President Donald Trump has defended his administration’s unprecedented decision to engage in direct talks with Hamas, emphasizing that the goal is to secure the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump stated, “We are helping Israel in those discussions because we’re talking about Israeli hostages.”
Trump clarified that the US is not providing financial support to Hamas. “We’re not doing anything in terms of Hamas. We’re not giving cash,” he said. “You have to negotiate. There’s a difference between negotiating and paying. We want to get these people out.”
Hostages Urge Trump to Continue Negotiations
Trump met with a group of eight recently released hostages on Wednesday, who shared harrowing accounts of their captivity. According to Channel 13 news, Trump repeatedly asked the former captives whether the Israeli public supports continuing with the hostage deal beyond its first phase. Polls indicate majority support, though backing among coalition voters is lower.
The released hostages urged Trump to continue efforts to free the remaining captives. “We have 59 left — of which 24 are living [and] they said they’re in very bad shape… [but the released hostages] want to know if we could just continue,” Trump said.
Israel Attempts to Sabotage US-Hamas Talks
Despite Trump’s assurances, Israel has expressed strong opposition to the direct US-Hamas negotiations. A government official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Israel leaked details of the talks to the media in an attempt to derail them. The official stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not informed of the talks beforehand, despite White House claims of prior consultation.
US Prioritizes American Hostages
US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff acknowledged that American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander is a top priority for the administration. “Edan Alexander is very important to us — as all the hostages are — but Edan Alexander is an American, and he’s injured, so he’s a top priority for us,” Witkoff told reporters.
Witkoff confirmed that Alexander’s release was a key topic in the talks between US envoy Adam Boehler and Hamas. However, he lamented that the discussions have not yet yielded results. “Unfortunately, what we learned is that Hamas told us they were going to be thinking about it a certain way… That’s important information for us to have,” Witkoff said.
Trump Issues Ultimatum to Hamas
Following the lack of progress, Trump issued a stern ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of all remaining hostages. “Somebody’s going to have to get a lot rougher than they’re getting. It’s a shame,” Trump said.
Witkoff echoed the president’s tough stance, warning that the US would not tolerate Hamas’s inhumane treatment of hostages. “We’re prepared to have dialogue. But if the dialogue doesn’t work, then the alternative is not such a good alternative for Hamas,” he said.
Hamas Warns Against Escalation
In response to Trump’s ultimatum, Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida warned that any Israeli military escalation could lead to the killing of some hostages. He also claimed that Hamas remains committed to the truce deal with Israel, provided Jerusalem agrees to the framework’s second phase, which includes a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Humanitarian Aid Freeze Sparks Controversy
Israel’s decision to bar aid from entering Gaza has drawn criticism from rights groups, who argue that using aid as a bargaining chip violates international law. The State Department defended the move, with spokesperson Tammy Bruce stating, “Aid can only be delivered in a safe framework. So as long as… we can’t guarantee the safety of something moving in, that is going to be stopped.”
Uncertain Future for Hostage Negotiations
As tensions rise, the future of the US-Hamas talks remains uncertain. Witkoff indicated that the US is prepared to take further action if Hamas does not comply with Trump’s demands. “It’s unclear exactly what’s going to happen. There’s going to be some action taken. It could be jointly with the Israelis,” he said.
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