In a groundbreaking exposé, The New York Times has unveiled the secret backchannel negotiations held between senior Trump administration officials and leaders of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas — meetings that were deliberately sabotaged by Israeli operatives, according to U.S. and Palestinian sources.
The high-stakes diplomacy, which unfolded in March 2025, aimed to secure the release of the last remaining American-Israeli captive in Gaza, Aidan Alexander, just days before former President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.
Although the deal wasn’t finalised in time for the speech, the talks marked an unprecedented diplomatic shift, as Washington violated its decades-old policy of refusing direct engagement with Hamas, which the U.S. officially designates as a “terrorist” organisation.
Trump’s Bid to Outshine Biden
The report, authored by Adam Rasgon and Ronen Bergman, reveals that Trump sought to showcase a diplomatic victory over Biden — particularly after the latter’s administration failed to secure any major hostage release.
The first meeting was held in Qatar, where Trump’s hostage affairs envoy, Adam Boehler, met with senior Hamas figures including Taher Al-Nunu, Basem Naim, and Osama Hamdan, in a setting adorned with a mural of Al-Aqsa Mosque and a portrait of Ismail Haniyeh, whom Israel had assassinated in July.
Over three secret meetings, Hamas officials presented their position: they would release Aidan Alexander in exchange for the freedom of 250 Palestinian prisoners, including 100 serving life sentences — a figure that was actually a reduced demand, seen as a gesture of goodwill.
Israel’s Sabotage of the Negotiations
Despite Hamas’s flexibility and the rare openness of the Trump team to direct talks, the process was undermined by Israel. According to multiple sources:
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- Israeli advisor Ron Dermer called Boehler in a furious phone call after learning of the talks.
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- Soon after, Israeli-linked media leaked the meetings to Axios, effectively poisoning the negotiations.
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- U.S. officials believe this was a deliberate move by Tel Aviv to sabotage the backchannel.
This wasn’t the first time. Earlier in Trump’s presidency, Israel had successfully blocked Boehler’s attempts to meet with Hamas in Doha by pressuring the White House.
What Was on the Table?
By the third and final meeting, U.S. negotiators had scaled back their offer:
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- 100 Palestinian prisoners (unspecified whether serving life terms),
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- Release of Palestinian women and children in exchange for the bodies of four American-Israeli captives,
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- Increased humanitarian aid to Gaza,
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- A plan for further political engagement via envoy Steve Witkoff.
Hamas negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya also outlined a vision for Gaza’s future, proposing a 5–10 year truce during which Hamas would disarm and focus on reconstruction, provided that conditions were right.
In addition, Hamas requested the release of two Holy Land Foundation figures imprisoned in the U.S. since 2008 — a demand that carried deep symbolic and legal weight.
Trump’s Ultimatum, Hamas’s Delay
According to insiders, Boehler gave Hamas a hard deadline: accept the deal before his plane took off. While Hayya reportedly wished to accept, internal dynamics and timing meant the deal was not sealed in time.
A week later, Hamas officially communicated acceptance of terms similar to the U.S. offer — but the Americans had already moved on. By the time Steve Witkoff landed in Doha to resume talks, he demanded Hamas release more prisoners without any firm guarantees of a ceasefire.
Hamas rejected the new demand. Days later, Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza.
Conclusion: A Deal That Could Have Saved Lives
This revelation exposes the fragility of ceasefire diplomacy in a climate of occupation, foreign meddling, and political vanity. What could have been a milestone in de-escalation was instead sacrificed on the altar of Israeli sabotage and American inconsistency.
Today, Aidan Alexander remains in captivity, while Gaza continues to endure one of the most brutal sieges in modern history.
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