A senior Hamas president has confirmed that the team is engaged in direct conversations with the United States, signalling a significant shift in American plan. But, he also accused US President Donald Trump of double standards in his approach to the fight.
Mushir al-Masri, a senior Hamas standard, told CNN that debate with US members centred on “achieving security, ending the war, and stopping anger against the Arab citizens”. He insisted that long-term peace could only be achieved through an arrangement with Hamas.
Since the October 7 problems, Israel has refused to engage with Hamas, vowing to expel the party. Following reports of US-Hamas deals, Israel reiterated its status to Washington but withheld more information.
Hamas has linked the launch of American and Jewish victims to negotiations for a second-phase peace. The team is believed to be holding one living American prisoner, Edan Alexander, along with four dying Americans. Furthermore, around 12 double US-Israeli nationals are thought to be in prison.
Masri criticised Trump for focusing only on Jewish hostages while ignoring almost 10, 000 Arab detainees in Zionist jails. He accused Washington of sympathizing with Israel rather than acting as a natural mediator.
Despite the ongoing deals, Trump has maintained a hardline position against Hamas. On Thursday, he wrote on Truth Social that the party had release all victims “or there will be heaven to pay”. US minister Steve Witkoff even hinted at possible American military activity in Gaza, stating,” Some action will be taken” if Hamas does not cooperate.
Masri dismissed these instructions as attempts to justify further Israeli military activity in Gaza. He insisted that intimidation tactics do crash and warned against attempts to forcibly remove Gaza’s people.
Trump has recently suggested that Gazans may leave the country so that the US could take power and convert it into a Middle Eastern “riviera”.
