US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler has defended the decision to hold direct talks with the Palestinian group Hamas, insisting that Washington was acting independently and is "not an agent of Israel".
Speaking to Israel's Channel 12, Boehler said: "You’re going to do anything you can to move forward and to get something accomplished."
He added: "We’re not willing to sit back, and the president is not willing to sit back and just wait a couple of weeks with nothing happening."
His comments provoked frustration in Israel, where senior officials criticised Boehler for bypassing Israel in the negotiations.
Ron Dermer, a close adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly lashed out at Boehler for conducting the talks without Israeli involvement.
Senior Israeli officials also told The Times of Israel they were "annoyed" and "surprised" by Boehler’s remark that "the US is not an agent of Israel".
Boehler defended his talks, arguing that diplomacy with Hamas was essential to securing the release of American captives still held in Gaza.
He described the meeting as "very helpful" and suggested that an agreement could be reached "within weeks".
The talks — held despite Hamas's designation as a "terrorist organisation" by the United States — also addressed the group's weapons and the future of Gaza's stability.
According to °®Âþµº's Arabic-language edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Hamas proposed a comprehensive deal involving a long-term ceasefire lasting over ten years, extending across Gaza and the West Bank, while maintaining the current status quo in Jerusalem.
In exchange, the group signalled a willingness to discuss scaling back its offensive weapons, particularly missile capabilities.
However, Hamas conditioned such discussions on Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza, an end to the ongoing war, and a prisoner-captives exchange - starting with hostages who hold US citizenship.
During the talks, Hamas reaffirmed its refusal to fully disarm, even in the event of a future Palestinian state, describing this position as a "non-negotiable principle".
Israel's devastating military campaign in Gaza killed over 61,700 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children, according to local health authorities.
The offensive has faced mounting criticism for its disproportionate impact on civilians and the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure.
A temporary truce aimed at securing hostage releases ended earlier this month, with disputes continuing over the timing of the next phase.