Israel To Coordinate Negotiations With Boehler, Right-Wing MKs Skeptical Of Direct Discussions

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his team clarified during the cabinet meeting on Monday that discussions had been held with the Americans regarding the talks conducted by Trump’s envoy, Adam Boehler, with Hamas about the hostages. Matters have been “refined” to ensure that any ongoing discussions would be fully coordinated with Israel, according to a report by Kan Reshet Bet.

It was also stated to the ministers in the cabinet meeting that “this issue has been resolved,” as according to reports, part of the discussions conducted by Trump’s envoy with Hamas were not coordinated with Israel. Last night it was revealed that Boehler had held direct negotiations with senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya, who was privy to the planning of the October 7 massacre.

Boehler, a Jewish-American envoy, spoke with Israeli journalists on Sunday, explaining why he had met directly with Hamas officials without coordinating with Israel. “We weren’t prepared to just sit back for two weeks,” Boehler told Israel’s Channel 12, refusing to specify when his meetings with Hamas began or how many took place.

“You’ve got a real chance for some movement and seeing hostages home in the next few weeks,” he continued.

Asked whether he “realistically” thinks “that Hamas would eventually agree to lay down its weapons and not be part of Gaza’s political future,” he answered: “I do believe that.”

While his meetings focused on the sole living American hostage Idan Alexander, along with the bodies of four slain American hostages, Boehler stressed that the talks were meant to lead to a wider deal for all the hostages.

“You do not need to have fear that the president of the United States, or I, or anyone in our administration will forget you,” he said, addressing the Israeli public.

A Palestinian source told Sky News Arabia on Monday that Hamas had offered to release Idan Alexander as a goodwill gesture, and without any ceremonies, in order to keep the negotiation channel open with Washington.

Speaking to Israel’s Kan news, Boehler described what he called a Hamas proposal that would see a five- to ten-year truce with Israel, during which the terror group would disarm and forego political power in Gaza.

Hamas “suggested exchanging all prisoners… and a five-year to ten-year truce where Hamas would lay down all weapons and where the US, as well as other countries, would ensure that there are no tunnels, there’s nothing taken on the military side, and that Hamas is not involved in politics going forward.”

He called the proposal “not a bad first offer.”

On Monday, right-wing MKs sharply criticized Boehler for conducting direct negotiations with the terrorist group.

“Adam Boehler and anyone conducting direct negotiations with Hamas are causing tremendous damage to the efforts to bring the hostages home,” said MK Simcha Rothman during a session of the Law, Constitution, and Justice Committee.

Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich was interviewed  on Israel’s Kan 11 news, where he described the direct talks between the United States and Hamas as a “complete mistake.” He claimed that Boehler, who led the discussions, is acting with “naivety.” Regarding the proposal presented by Trump’s envoy on behalf of Hamas, Smotrich dismissed it as “utter nonsense.”