President Donald Trump’s envoy for hostage issues, Adam Boehler, said on Sunday that the United States meetings with Hamas about the release of hostages held in Gaza were very useful and he did not rule out additional meetings with the Palestinian militant group.
Boehler said his meetings with Hamas leaders in recent days were designed to identify what the group’s ultimate goal was to end hostilities.
“I think it was a very useful meeting. It was very useful to hear a few comings and goings, ”said Boehler in an interview with CNN’s“ State of the Union ”.
Boehler said he understood the dismay and concern expressed by the Israeli officer Ron Dermer about his direct contact with Hamas, but emphasized that he had a clear goal in his conversations.
“We are the United States. We are not an agent of Israel, ”said Boehler. “We have specific interests at stake, and we communicate from side to side.
“What I wanted to do was make an initial leap in some negotiations that were in a very fragile place. And I wanted to tell Hamas, what is the ultimate goal you want here? ”
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Discussions between Boehler and Hamas broke up with a Washington decades policy against group negotiations that the US classifies as terrorist organizations.
US envoy must be in the region this week to continue negotiations on a ceasefire in Gaza.
Boehler said he believed something could be done about Gaza’s hostages within weeks, but did not go into detail. He said he believes an agreement can be made so that all prisoners can leave, not just the Americans who are stuck in the enclave.
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Separately, Boehler said he didn’t know if American journalist Austin Tice was alive in Syria.
“I will go to Syria and do the best I can to find out,” said Boehler. “If he’s there. I’ll bring you home. ”
