The US holds direct talks with Hamas for the first time, - Axios.

The Trump administration is negotiating with Hamas regarding the release of hostages and an end to the war in Gaza

The Trump administration is currently in an intense phase of negotiations with Hamas regarding the release of American hostages and the possibility of reaching a broader ceasefire agreement in Gaza. This was reported by two sources directly involved in the negotiations.

The chief negotiator from the US side, Adam Bowler, met with representatives of Hamas in Doha. This is the first Time in history that the US administration has conducted direct negotiations with Hamas, which the US has condemned as a terrorist organization since 1997.

Through some channels, Israel has been informed about certain aspects of the negotiations, although the Trump administration had previously consulted with it regarding contacts with Hamas.

The negotiations focus on the release of American hostages but also discuss the possibility of releasing all hostages and achieving a long-term ceasefire. Details of the agreement are not yet available.

White House representative Steve Witkoff also planned to visit Doha to meet with the Prime Minister of Qatar and discuss ceasefire negotiations. However, due to a lack of progress from Hamas, he canceled the trip.

These actions by the Trump administration contradict Biden's approach to the conflict. Trump threatens Hamas with 'hell' and offers a 'seizure' of Gaza. Direct talks with Hamas, especially without full support from Israel, are a groundbreaking step.

There are still 59 American hostages in Gaza, of whom 35 have died, and the fate of 22 remains unknown. After the ceasefire, Israel halted the supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza, threatening famine for 1.9 million Palestinians who have been displaced due to the conflict.

Representatives of the White House and the office of the Prime Minister of Israel declined to comment on this publication.