Report: Trump Envoy Nearly Secured Deal - Israel Sabotaged It

According to a report in The New York Times today (Thursday), moments before Israel resumed fighting in the Gaza Strip, there was significant progress toward a deal to release hostages, with hostage Idan Alexander supposed to be included in the agreement framework.

The report states that during March, Adam Boehler, President Donald Trump's envoy, led negotiations with Hamas. The joint teams held three secret meetings with senior Hamas officials in Qatar, aiming to secure the release of Idan Alexander, an American-Israeli hostage held captive in Gaza.

According to four sources involved in the discussions, Boehler tried to convince Hamas to agree to release hostage Idan Alexander so Trump could announce a successful negotiation during his address to Congress. The negotiations continued even during the President's trip to the Capitol, but the talks were unsuccessful.

After Boehler's second meeting, he received an angry phone call from Minister Ron Dermer, who expressed anger and frustration that Boehler had not updated Israel about the negotiations. The next day, the story was published in the media, and according to American sources, it was leaked by Israeli officials to sabotage the talks.

The report also states that after President Trump took office on January 20, Adam Boehler tried to continue meeting with Hamas envoys in Doha to reach a deal, but officials in the Prime Minister's Office pressured the White House, and the meeting was canceled.