A New Strategy

We heard today that the US is talking directly to Hamas in hopes of securing the release of the remaining hostages and stopping the war in a report from The Times Of Israel:

US President Donald Trump’s administration is holding direct talks with Hamas, aimed at securing the release of American hostages held in the Gaza Strip as well as a broader deal to end the war, a source familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel on Wednesday, confirming a report by Axios.

The US said that Israel was told about the talks beforehand:

The White House later confirmed that the US was holding direct talks with Hamas, adding that “Israel was consulted on this matter,” but declined to comment on what was being discussed with the terror group.

Israel did weigh in briefly as well:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, following the US’s public confirmation of the talks, said Israel “expressed its stance on direct talks with Hamas” in “contacts with the US,” but provided no further details.

Some see this as negotiating with terrorists which America says they will never do:

The secret talks being held by Trump’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler are unprecedented, as the US has never before engaged directly with Hamas, which Washington designated as a terror group in 1997.

These talks didn’t just start:

The talks have been taking place in Doha in recent weeks, Axios said, citing two sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations, and adding that no deal has been reached.

When asked about the talks the White House said this:

Asked in a press briefing about the report, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Boehler “does have the authority to talk to anyone,” and said, “Dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what’s in the best interest of the American people is something that the president has proven that he believes [in].”

Leavitt did not comment on what was being discussed, saying merely that the discussions are “ongoing” and that there are “American lives at stake.”

And Israel only just learned of the specifics of the talks:

While the US consulted with Israel about the possibility of engaging in talks with Hamas, Israel only learned about specific aspects through other channels, Axios reported.

Hamas apparently has no issues talking with the US:

In January, senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk said publicly that the terror group is prepared to open a dialogue with the Trump administration.

Of note, of those still being held only one American is still alive:

There is one remaining American hostage in Gaza — Edan Alexander — who is believed to still be alive. Hamas is also holding the bodies of American-Israeli hostages Itay Chen, Gad Haggai, Judi Weinstein and Omer Neutra.

Putting Pressure On Hamas

Israel is thankful for the US help:

Israel’s Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis, however, welcomed the report, telling Fox News: “There is a new attitude from the White House… against Hamas. They can talk with Hamas, that’s okay.”

“President Trump actually changed the whole idea. Instead of putting Israel under pressure, President Trump is putting Hamas under pressure, and this is the right thing to do,” Akunis said.

“If the White House wants to talk directly to Hamas and put them under pressure to release more hostages, we will be very happy to see more hostages with our families,” he adds, calling “a direct negotiation with Hamas… more than welcome.”

As I’ve reported before, Israel has no problem with working with Hamas again, but need more hostages to jump start the talks:

Israeli leaders have said they are willing to resume the flow of aid and extend the ceasefire but have demanded the release of more hostages for that to happen.

The one hitch is that Hamas wants the war to end with them still in charge and Israel wants Hamas to have nothing to do with Gaza and in fact their goal is to eliminate them entirely. The Trump administration agrees:

The Trump administration has repeatedly called for the return of all the hostages and the end of Hamas rule in Gaza. The president himself has insisted on an American takeover of the enclave and the forced resettlement of its 2.2 million residents elsewhere.

And we learned yesterday Arab nations have a plan for Gaza that doesn’t include Israel at all:

An Arab plan, presented this week as an alternative to Trump’s proposal, calls for the rebuilding of Gaza without the permanent displacement of its residents, but largely sidelines the matter of Hamas’s long-term status in the Strip.

I think the talks with Hamas, while somewhat hopeful, will not yield any meaningful results and I’m sure Israeli leadership agrees. From a prophetic view, this will end in fighting and the outcome will be that Israel will live in peace and safety without the current walls all around them. They will, for the first time in modern history, not have to fear terrorist attacks coming at them from all around them. In the current news cycle none of this will be seen, but Bible prophecy students know exactly where this comes from. As we pray for the peace of Jerusalem let us add this information to our list.