In a significant development reported by NBC News, the Biden administration is considering direct negotiations with Hamas to secure the release of five American hostages held in Gaza, according to four high-level US officials. This potential unilateral deal, which would exclude Israel from the discussions, comes in the wake of stalled ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.
NBC News reports that the proposed negotiations would be conducted through Qatari intermediaries, mirroring the current communication channels. The White House has declined to comment on these reports. According to the NBC News report, US officials believe that Hamas is holding five American citizens who were abducted during the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. Additionally, they hope to recover the remains of three US citizens believed to have been killed by Hamas on the same day.
Dramatic report: The Biden admin discussed the possibility of a deal with #HamasISIS terror org, which would lead to the release of those with American citizenship Idan Alexander, Sagi Dekel-Chen, Hirsh Goldberg-Pollin, Omer Nautra & Keith Siegel, if the current negotiations fail pic.twitter.com/7wRAogbM9S
— Shmuel Shalom שמואל שלום سمؤال عبد السلام (@ShmuelShalom) June 10, 2024
The terms of any potential exchange remain unclear. However, officials told NBC News that Hamas might be incentivized to strike a deal directly with the US, as it could strain US-Israel relations and increase domestic political pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
One former official revealed to NBC News that these internal discussions also consider whether the prospect of a US-Hamas deal might pressure Netanyahu to accept the current ceasefire proposal. The Israeli leader is already facing mounting calls from hostages' families to reach an agreement. Israeli officials estimate that Hamas still holds about 120 hostages, with 43 believed to have died in captivity. NBC News identifies the five Americans believed to be held in Gaza as Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Omer Neutra, and Keith Siegel.
Over the weekend, an Israeli military operation rescued four hostages from the Nova music festival. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit the region on Monday to discuss ceasefire efforts. A senior administration official told NBC News that the recent hostage rescue might complicate Blinken's mission, as it has bolstered Netanyahu's resolve to continue military operations in Gaza.
In past efforts to free wrongfully detained Americans abroad, the US has conducted prisoner swaps. NBC News notes that it's unclear if there are prisoners in US custody whose release Hamas would seek and whom the Biden administration would deem acceptable to release.
A current senior US official emphasized to NBC News that negotiating directly with Hamas remains a "very real option" if the current ceasefire proposal fails. Meanwhile, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that the US is awaiting an "official" response from Hamas to the latest offer.
