Of all the movie quotes that have become part of the collective imagination and everyday language, it is probably the most implausible that "the United States does not negotiate with terrorists." Governments, especially the U.S. government, always talk to their rivals and enemies, including organizations they consider terrorists. Informally, through secondary channels, discreetly, so as not to leave traces. Or openly. Sometimes they attack them, and sometimes they sit at a table, from the Taliban to now Hamas.
The White House confirmed on Wednesday that it is negotiating directly with Hamas in Qatar regarding the next steps for implementing the peace agreement with Israel, which is constantly on shaky ground. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt admitted that U.S. officials and diplomats have had "continuous conversations and discussions" with Hamas counterparts.
The organization has been a fixation for Trump for years. In December, after winning the elections but before taking office, he gave them an ultimatum: either they immediately release the Israeli hostages captured on October 7, 2023, or "he would unleash hell in the Middle East" punishing "those responsible with the harshest measures ever used by his country." Hamas did not release anyone until reaching an agreement in mid-January, and even then, Trump did not take direct action. And now he has done it again, but in an unexpected way.
Hours after the press revealed the meetings, Trump reacted on his social media to try to divert attention and appease his base and the Israeli public opinion. "Shalom Hamas means Hello and Goodbye. You can choose: either release all hostages now, not later, and immediately return all the bodies of the people you killed, or it's OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I will send Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if they don't do as I say," he wrote. "This is the final warning for your leaders, now is the time to leave Gaza while you still have a chance. To the people of Gaza: a beautiful future awaits you, but not if you have hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, or there will be hell to pay later!" he concluded.
Spokesperson Leavitt refused to detail the content of the conversations but said that "dialogue and talking with people around the world to do what is in the best interest of the American people is something the president has shown he believes is a good-faith effort to do the right thing," something that applies to this case and to Russia, as Trump repeatedly says that one must listen, bring together, and talk to all parties in a conflict.
Information about the negotiations was revealed in the morning by the Axios media outlet, which explains that the Trump administration is focused not only on the release of American hostages held in Gaza, undoubtedly the priority, but also on the possibility of a broader agreement to end the war, as the current phased system is very precarious.
The negotiations, held discreetly in Doha, the capital of Qatar, are being led by the U.S. presidential envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, and are unprecedented. The United States had never before directly interacted with Hamas, which it designated as a terrorist organization in 1997.
"While the Trump administration consulted with Israel on the possibility of engaging with Hamas, Israel learned about aspects of the conversations through other channels," Axios explains in its report. Steve Witkoff, Trump's go-to guy, who forced Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the ceasefire and also visited Putin in Moscow, was also planning to travel to Doha this week to meet with the Qatari prime minister about ceasefire negotiations, "but he canceled the trip on Tuesday night after seeing that there was no progress on Hamas' part," as admitted by a U.S. official.
Trump has undoubtedly shaken up the region. The Israel-Hamas ceasefire was signed before he took office, but largely due to his pressure and with his envoys playing a key role. He has since shocked everyone with his plans to "take control of the Strip" and forcibly expel millions of Palestinians, trying to force Egypt and Jordan, among others, to accept them.
But negotiating directly with Hamas, beyond informal contacts and without Israel's involvement, is something none of his predecessors had done before. But the situation is also unique. According to Tel Aviv, 59 hostages are still held by Hamas in Gaza, although at least 35 of them are believed to be dead. Israeli intelligence believes that 22 hostages are still alive, and the status of two others is unknown. Among them are five Americans, including one, Edan Alexander, 21, who is believed to be alive.
"During the talks with the United States, Israel expressed its opinion on the issue of direct talks with Hamas," said the office of the Israeli prime minister succinctly, visibly uncomfortable with this turn of events. Trump is clearly aligned with his main ally, has lifted restrictions on arms and bomb deliveries, and given the green light to repression in the West Bank. But at the same time, he seems to have his own plans for the area, and that, and being in the dark about a talk with Hamas, makes them very nervous.