The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, on Thursday, March 6, 2025, defended his administration's direct negotiations with Hamas, calling the talks a crucial step in securing the release of Israeli hostages. While signing executive orders in the Oval Office, Trump emphasized that the US was acting in Israel’s interest and not offering financial aid to Hamas.
Trump reflected on a meeting with eight hostages who were released earlier in the week, saying he was shocked by the conditions they endured in captivity. He also asked them whether the Israeli public supported continuing the hostage negotiations beyond their first phase, noting that while public support was high, it had started to wane among coalition voters.
“We have 59 left — of which 24 are living — and they said they’re in very bad shape,” Trump said, recounting the hostages' concerns. “They want to know if we could just continue” with the process to free the remaining hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
Trump also reiterated his tough stance, referring to a statement he had made following his meeting with the freed captives, in which he warned Hamas that it would face severe consequences unless the remaining hostages were released. “Somebody’s going to have to get a lot rougher than they’re getting. It’s a shame,” he said.
However, the direct talks between the United States and Hamas have sparked controversy in Jerusalem. An Israeli government official, speaking anonymously, confirmed to The Times of Israel that Israel was not informed in advance about the negotiations, despite the White House’s claims of consultation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly unaware of the talks until after they took place.
The United States decided against informing Israel about a meeting held by Trump's hostage envoy, Adam Boehler, with Hamas because a prior attempt to do so had led to the cancellation of a similar meeting after strong Israeli opposition. The meeting was focused on securing the release of American-Israeli hostages and exploring broader talks to resolve the hostage crisis and end the war ignited by Hamas’s October 2023 attacks on southern Israel.
After learning of the meeting, Israeli officials reportedly leaked the information to the media, which resulted in a setback for the talks. The official suggested that the leak had successfully disrupted the discussions, with the talks now encountering difficulties.
Israel’s concerns about the direct talks stemmed from fears that once all American hostages were freed, the United States might lose interest in negotiating a broader ceasefire and a long-term solution.
Source: The Times of Israel.
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