US holds 'secret' talks with Hamas on Gaza hostages, ceasefire for 1st time: Report

ISTANBUL

The US has reportedly engaged in "direct" and "secret" talks with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, for the first time to secure the release of US hostages held in the Gaza Strip and explore a broader ceasefire deal, Axios reported Wednesday.

The news outlet, citing two sources with direct knowledge of the discussions, said the talks are being led by US presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler.

The meetings allegedly took place in the Qatar capital in recent weeks.

The US reportedly consulted Israel but did not fully disclose the scope of the talks, leading Israel to learn details through other channels.

A US official, meanwhile, told the outlet that US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff canceled a trip to Doha earlier this week after "determining there was no progress from Hamas’ side."

There was no confirmation or denial from any official source about the details or the scope of the talks.

The talks come amid a devastating war in Gaza, where nearly 48,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed by Israel since October 2023.

A temporary ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, which began Jan. 19, briefly halted the violence but has since collapsed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to negotiate the second phase of the three-phase deal, instead seeking to extend the first phase. Hamas, however, insists on negotiations on the second phase, including a full Israeli withdrawal and a complete end to the war.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.