The United States has reportedly engaged in direct and secret talks with Hamas for the first time, aiming to secure the release of US hostages held in Gaza and explore the possibility of a broader ceasefire, Axios reported on Wednesday.
According to two sources familiar with the discussions, the talks were led by US presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler and took place in Doha, Qatar, in recent weeks.
While the US consulted Israel, it reportedly did not fully disclose the scope of the discussions, leading Israeli officials to learn details through other channels.
A US official told Axios that US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff cancelled a planned trip to Doha earlier this week, citing a lack of progress from Hamas.
There has been no official confirmation or denial from US or Qatari officials regarding the details of the meetings.
The reported talks come as Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has left nearly 48,400 Palestinians dead, according to local health authorities. The war has been ongoing since October 2023.
A temporary ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal in January 2025 briefly halted the fighting, but efforts to revive negotiations have stalled.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to move to the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which Hamas insists must include a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war.
Meanwhile, Israel faces legal challenges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its actions in Gaza. In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes.
The US-Hamas talks could signal a shift in Washington's diplomatic approach, though no clear breakthrough has been reported.
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