Hamas Claims Talks With US Were ‘Positive’, Witkoff Says It Must Disarm And Leave Gaza

NEW YORK (VINnews) — The London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing Hamas sources, that recent talks between senior Hamas officials and representatives of the U.S. administration were “positive” but still require time to succeed. The sources clarified that the meetings took place at the request of the Americans.

According to these sources, the talks focused mainly on the release of Israeli hostages with American citizenship. However, Hamas’s leadership did not provide information on whether they were alive or dead. Hamas expressed willingness to release them in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life and long-term imprisonment for each living Israeli hostage, as well as hundreds of prisoners sentenced to shorter terms.

Israel’s Kan 11 news outlet reported that there is an ongoing proposal for a prisoner swap deal under the formula “everyone for everyone,” which would include an end to the war, a withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza, and that the United States might consider this option despite its public opposition to several recent proposals.

The sources also stressed that Hamas has not committed to disarming, stating that “this is a Palestinian matter.” They added that Hamas would only agree to disarmament if there were a clear political process leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, talks are expected to continue in the coming days, either directly or through mediating countries.

Despite Hamas’s claims, Washington painted a different picture regarding the Trump administration’s direct negotiations with Hamas. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated yesterday that the meetings led by Trump’s special envoy for hostages, Adam Boehler, were a one-time event that did not lead to a breakthrough.

Earlier this week, Boehler told Kan 11 that while some progress was made in the negotiations, they were only “small steps” at this stage. He emphasized that his talks with Hamas were aimed at assisting in the release of American and Israeli hostages and to “identify what Hamas wants to end the war.” Boehler noted that “some of Hamas’s demands are relatively reasonable and could be worked with.”

The indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are slated to continue this week in Qatar, after Israel sent a delegation to the mediating country to continue its diplomatic efforts to release the hostages. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Monday said that deadlines were needed on a deal for the next phase of the hostage-ceasefire deal and that “all things are on the table” if Hamas agrees to demilitarize and leave the Gaza Strip.

Speaking on Fox News a day before he is slated to fly to Qatar for talks with Israel and Hamas, Witkoff said the terror group has “no alternative” other than disarming and leaving Gaza.

“If they leave, then all things are on the table for a negotiated peace, and that’s what they’ll need to do,” said.

“We need deadlines” for an agreement on the next phase in a deal, Witkoff said, adding that the conditions the hostages are being held in are “unacceptable” and “deplorable.”

Witkoff also praised Qatar for its “outstanding” mediation efforts, adding that Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also been helpful.