Senior Hamas sources have described recent talks with US officials in Doha as “positive” but stressed that further discussions are needed to reach an agreement. The sources confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the negotiations took place at Washington’s request.
According to the sources, Hamas leaders proposed to US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler a long-term truce of at least five years, potentially extending to a decade or more. They emphasized that Hamas remains open to such a deal, which had been suggested in the past but was repeatedly rejected by Israel.
The sources firmly denied committing to any disarmament agreement, calling it an internal Palestinian matter.
“Disarmament would only be considered within a clear political framework leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state,” they said.
Israeli media reports had quoted Boehler as saying that Hamas proposed a long-term ceasefire and a full prisoner exchange—including both Israeli and Palestinian detainees—in return for disarmament under international guarantees. Hamas, however, refuted these claims.
Boehler’s discussions with Hamas marked the first official contact between the US and the group, a move that has raised concerns in Israel.
The sources expect talks to continue in the coming days, either through direct meetings or mediated channels. Hamas remains committed to negotiating a comprehensive deal that would secure a permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza—including from the Philadelphi Corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border—and the reconstruction of the enclave.
The discussions primarily focused on the release of Israeli hostages holding American citizenship. The sources confirmed that Hamas did not disclose whether the hostages were alive or dead but expressed willingness to release them in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners serving life or long-term sentences for each living hostage, along with the release of hundreds of other detainees with lesser sentences.
According to Hamas sources, discussions have increasingly shifted toward a broader resolution, including a ceasefire, an Israeli withdrawal, and a reconstruction plan for Gaza. The sources suggested that President Donald Trump’s administration has recently shown greater flexibility on these issues compared to its earlier stance.
“The talks have taken a more positive turn, but an agreement will take time,” one source said.
Hamas has also floated the possibility of a “total exchange”—a deal in which all hostages and detainees would be swapped, coupled with a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal. The sources indicated that Washington may be open to such a framework despite its publicly stated opposition to certain aspects of the proposal.
With Israel preparing for a possible resumption of hostilities, the coming week is expected to be decisive in determining whether negotiations move forward or military escalation resumes.
