The United States will directly engage in discussions with Hamas to extend the ceasefire and negotiate a prisoner exchange, a move that has drawn criticism from Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister, Ron Dermer.
The decision, authorised by President Donald Trump, comes in the wake of stalled mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas earlier this week, US envoy Adam Boehler confirmed to reporters.
Boehler, who serves as Trump’s special representative for captives held by Hamas, stated that direct engagement had been “very helpful” and expressed optimism that “something could come together on Gaza within weeks.”
“The US was very worried that the ceasefire at that point was very fragile and that a gunshot could change it,” Boehler remarked.
Israeli discontent
The US decision has met with resistance in Israel, particularly from Dermer, who has voiced concerns over the direct talks. When asked about Dermer’s disapproval, Boehler curtly responded, “I don’t care about it that much.”
While acknowledging Dermer’s concerns, Boehler emphasised that the United States has its own interests.
Also read: Trump warns Hamas: Release hostages or face 'destruction'
“However, we also have our interests in the US. And I believe and I hope, some of those interactions can speed things up,” he said.
Dermer’s main concern, according to Boehler, is that the US is “giving too many [Palestinian] prisoners away” in exchange for Israeli captives still held in Gaza. The Israeli minister reportedly believes this precedent would complicate future negotiations.
Ceasefire talks resume
With the first phase of the ceasefire having ended last week, Israeli negotiators are set to arrive in Doha today as Egypt, Qatar, and the United States attempt to reinvigorate the stalled ceasefire deal.
Hamas, meanwhile, has accused Israel of engaging in “cheap and unacceptable blackmail” by cutting off electricity to Gaza, a move that threatens the sole functional desalination plant in the enclave.
The Palestinian government’s media office has revised its previous death toll estimate, raising the number of casualties from Gaza’s Health Ministry’s earlier figure of 48,453 to at least 61,709.
Thousands of Palestinians remain missing beneath the rubble and are now presumed dead.
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