GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center)A senior Hamas official has revealed that advanced, direct negotiations are currently taking place between the Hamas Movement and the US administration, focusing on a potential ceasefire in Gaza.
In a statement to Al Jazeera, the Hamas official confirmed that talks have been ongoing for several days, addressing key issues such as the entry of humanitarian aid and the cessation of hostilities.
The development follows a meeting in March, when the US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs met senior Hamas officials in Doha, Qatar — reportedly without Israel’s knowledge — to discuss the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza, including five American citizens.
At the time, Hamas stated that the negotiations with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, along with the American envoy, were based on ending the ongoing war, achieving a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and initiating reconstruction efforts.
Despite holding four rounds of talks with US officials, negotiations stalled at a critical point. The United States reportedly proposed a limited deal focusing solely on the release of one American-Israeli soldier and four bodies of deceased captives.
However, during the fourth meeting, the American side—under then-President Donald Trump’s administration—reversed course, insisting on unconditional releases without any reciprocal concessions. The talks collapsed without reaching an agreement.
Along the same line, the head of Hamas in Gaza and the chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, stated on Sunday that the Movement has held discussions with the United States administration in recent days as part of mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Al-Hayya said Hamas had shown a high degree of flexibility during these talks and confirmed the group’s readiness to release Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander as part of steps aimed at ending the war, reopening border crossings, and ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
He added that Hamas is prepared to immediately begin intensive negotiations and engage seriously to reach a comprehensive ceasefire deal that would include a mutually agreed prisoner exchange, the management of Gaza by an independent, professional body, and the reconstruction of the Strip, alongside the lifting of the siege—all to ensure long-term stability and calm.
Al-Hayya also expressed appreciation for the ongoing mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye, acknowledging their critical roles throughout the negotiation process.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate rapidly. For nearly ten weeks, Israel has blocked the entry of aid, causing the shutdown of bakeries, community kitchens, and charitable organizations. International aid agencies have reported their warehouses are now completely empty of basic food supplies and infant formula.
Israel resumed its full-scale assault on Gaza and tightened the siege on 18 March 2025, ending a two-month ceasefire agreement that had taken effect on 19 January. Throughout the ceasefire period, Israel repeatedly violated the terms of the agreement.
Since 7 October 2023, with backing from the United States and European countries, Israel has been accused of committing acts of genocide in Gaza, resulting in over 172,000 Palestinian casualties—dead and wounded—most of them women and children, with over 14,000 still missing.
