US confirms direct talks with Hamas over Gaza captives
Al JazeeraMAR 3
Report: US Believes Israel Leaked Information on Direct Hamas Talks
Above: Palestinians perform the first Friday prayer of Ramadan in a destroyed mosque in the Gaza Strip on March 7, 2025. Image copyright: Khames Alrefi/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Both sides need to make concessions so that the cease-fire can continue. Nonetheless, halting aid entering Gaza risks escalating the situation and exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the strip. For the hostages to be released, Netanyahu should stop playing politics.
Pro-Israel narrative
Israel has consistently negotiated in good faith with Hamas, a terror group, but the situation is reaching a point at which further talks are pointless. Hamas has been the main obstacle to peace throughout the war and now is no different. If the terror group does not agree to release more hostages and work with Israel and the US, the war must resume in the coming days.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Though the Western media is blaming Hamas for Israel's blatant violations of the cease-fire, the reality is Netanyahu was never interested in ending the war or freeing the hostages. Hamas has followed the cease-fire — largely ignoring Israeli violations such as killing civilians, yet the US is backing Israel's attempts to starve Gaza again and commit even more war crimes in the delusional belief that this will save the hostages.