The US is considering holding talks on a unilateral deal with Hamas to secure the release of the five American hostages thought to be among those still held in Gaza.
Negotiations would be opened through officials in Qatar if there is no progress on the latest three-phase peace plan outlined by President Biden, NBC News reported.
Biden is anxious to show progress on bringing hostages home and also repatriate the remains of three US citizens whose bodies are believed to be held by Hamas after being killed during the attack on Israel on October 7.
The family of Edan Alexander, 19, are pleading for his release
DEBBIE HILL/UPI/REX
The consideration of unilateral talks that cut out Israel is another sign that US officials have little faith in Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, or his government’s commitment to the peace plan unveiled by Biden publicly in an unusual move at the end of last month.
It is not clear what the US could offer Hamas for the release of Americans but officials believe the Palestinians could see a separate deal as weakening the US alliance with Israel. It could also increase domestic pressure on Netanyahu to agree to a second ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange after the previous deal in November.
Any such talks between the US and Hamas would not include the release of Israeli captives. Israeli officials estimate that about 120 hostages are still being held by Hamas, while 43 have died in captivity.
A former US official told NBC that internal administration discussions on holding talks have considered whether a potential American unilateral deal with Hamas might pressure Netanyahu to agree to the latest ceasefire proposal.
The father and brother of Itay Chen, 19, whose death in captivity prompted Biden to vow to bring other hostages home
JACQUELYN MARTIN/AP
Judy Weinstein and Gad Haggai were killed by Hamas
BRING THEM HOME NOW/REX
The White House declined to comment on the report.
The five Americans still believed to be held in Gaza are Edan Alexander, 19; Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35; Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23; Omer Neutra, 22; and Keith Siegel, 64. The three Americans believed to have been killed during the Hamas terrorist attack are Itay Chen, 19, Judy Weinstein, 70, and Gad Haggai, 73.
In March, Biden issued a statement after learning that Chen, 19, was among the dead, pledging to bring the hostages back as soon as possible.
“As we join Itay’s parents, brothers, and family in grieving this tragic loss, we keep this reminder close to our hearts,” he said. “And I reaffirm my pledge to all the families of those still held hostage: we are with you. We will never stop working to bring your loved ones home.”