US Holds Talks With Hamas About Releasing American Hostages

The White House confirmed a special envoy has taken two meetings with Hamas to negotiate the release of hostages.

The Details: Trump’s special envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler met with Hamas officials in Doha, Qatar’s capital. After the White House’s confirmation, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, “I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.”

For Context: Israel says Hamas still has 59 hostages, including one living American, 21-year-old Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier from New Jersey. The talks focused on his release as well as the bodies of four other Israeli Americans kidnapped by Hamas. Typically, the US has gone through intermediaries to speak with Hamas, which the State Department designates as a terrorist organization. 

How the Media Covered It: Outlets from across the political spectrum reported that these talks break with the long-held American policy of refusing to directly engage with terrorist groups. Though White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Israel had been consulted about these meetings, New York Times (Lean Left bias) quoted an Israeli source saying Israel learned about them from “other channels.” New York Post (Lean Right) mentioned Trump’s intent to re-develop Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” writing that Leavitt “would not say” if the talks with Hamas included his proposal. BBC (Center) focused on Trump’s Truth Social post, saying he “appeared to threaten civilians.”