Israel sabotages secret talks between US, Hamas

US officials accused Israel of sabotaging secret talks between the US and Hamas in Doha, which aim to negotiate the release of captives held in the Gaza Strip with the movement.

According to Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, US officials confirmed that Israel was not informed in advance of these talks after it had caused the failure of a previous round of negotiations planned last week.

The newspaper indicated that representatives of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government are not only opposed to holding separate negotiations between the US and Hamas, but also fear that these talks will lead to progress in future arrangements for the Gaza Strip without Israel being an intermediary party in relaying information to the US administration.

Sources revealed that a US delegation was in Doha last week to hold a meeting with a senior Hamas official, which was considered the first direct contact of its kind. However, the Israeli government learned of the matter and contacted the White House National Security Council officials, expressing strong opposition to the meeting and the agenda to be discussed. As a result, the meeting was cancelled under Israeli pressure.

A White House spokesperson confirmed that Israel was aware of the talks, while the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed in a brief statement that Israel had expressed its position to the US regarding direct negotiations with Hamas.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that discussions were being held with Hamas while Israel continues to avoid starting the implementation of the second phase of the prisoner exchange deal and the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Trump told reporters: “We are helping Israel in those discussions because we’re talking about Israeli hostages. We’re not doing anything in terms of Hamas. We’re not giving cash.”

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