A senior Hamas leader has confirmed that the group is engaged in direct talks with the United States, signalling a major shift in American policy. However, he also accused US President Donald Trump of double standards in his approach to the conflict.
Mushir al-Masri, a senior Hamas official, told CNN that discussions with US representatives centred on “achieving stability, ending the war, and stopping aggression against the Palestinian people.” He insisted that long-term peace could only be achieved through an agreement with Hamas.
Since the October 7 attacks, Israel has refused to engage with Hamas, vowing to eliminate the group. Following reports of US-Hamas talks, Israel reiterated its position to Washington but withheld further details.
Hamas has linked the release of American and Israeli hostages to negotiations for a second-phase ceasefire. The group is believed to be holding one living American hostage, Edan Alexander, along with four deceased Americans. Additionally, around 12 dual US-Israeli nationals are thought to be in captivity.
Masri criticised Trump for focusing solely on Israeli hostages while ignoring nearly 10,000 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. He accused Washington of siding with Israel rather than acting as a neutral mediator.
Despite the ongoing talks, Trump has maintained a hardline stance against Hamas. On Thursday, he wrote on Truth Social that the group must release all hostages “or there will be hell to pay.” US envoy Steve Witkoff also hinted at potential American military action in Gaza, stating, “Some action will be taken” if Hamas does not comply.
Masri dismissed these warnings as attempts to justify further Israeli military action in Gaza. He insisted that intimidation tactics would fail and warned against efforts to forcibly displace Gaza’s population.
Trump has previously suggested that Gazans should leave the territory so that the US could take control and transform it into a Middle Eastern “riviera.”
