From: The Times of Israel March 9, 2025
Trump envoy defends his direct talks with Hamas, says US ‘not an agent of Israel’

In flurry of interviews, Adam Boehler says, he hopes for deal to free hostages within weeks and he believes:
1. Hamas will ultimately lay down its weapons,
2. forgo political power;
when Pigs fly...

US hostage envoy Adam Boehler on Sunday defended his direct talks with officials in the Hamas terror group, pushing back against private but intense criticism from Jerusalem, in a spate of interviews to American and Israeli media.

Some of Boehler’s remarks further annoyed senior Israeli officials, who told The Times of Israel they were surprised to hear the envoy comment that the US is “not an agent of Israel.”

The direct US-Hamas talks, held in parallel to indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt, focused on releasing the American hostages still captive in Gaza, though Boehler stressed that the ultimate goal was the release of all the hostages.

“We weren’t prepared to just sit back for two weeks,” Boehler told Israel’s Channel 12 refusing to specify:
1. when his meetings with Hamas began or
2. how many took place.

“You’ve got a real chance for some movement and seeing hostages home, in the next few weeks,” he continued.