Breaking diplomacy: Israel furious over secret Trump-Hamas talks

The talks, led by Adam Boehler, Trump's special envoy for the recovery of American hostages, have been held in Doha, Qatar, but so far, they have yielded no significant progress.

Israel was aware of the secret channel through which these talks were taking place but had not been fully briefed beforehand. According to a senior Israeli official, the existence of these talks is "very problematic" and "to say the least, concerning." These direct discussions mark a stark departure from the decades-long policy of the United States, which, alongside Israel and other Western nations, has refused to engage directly with Hamas, a group classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have been cautious in their public response to these talks. The Prime Minister's Office issued a brief, cryptic statement: "In contacts with the United States, Israel has expressed its opinion on direct talks with Hamas." The lack of specificity in this statement reflects the diplomatic sensitivity surrounding the matter. If Israel's opinion were positive, Netanyahu would have likely voiced his support for the initiative, as he has done in the past with other U.S. actions.

In addition to the concerns about legitimacy, Israel is troubled by the fact that Hamas has been granted a form of recognition by the U.S. simply through these direct talks. For Hamas, the opportunity to meet with an American official, regardless of the outcome of these talks, is a significant symbolic victory. Israel, on the other hand, would prefer to avoid giving Hamas this form of validation and would rather rely on other intermediaries, such as Egypt or Qatar, for indirect negotiations.

Meanwhile, Israel remains on high alert as tensions rise, with the possibility of renewed conflict in Gaza. The government is carefully monitoring developments, and the next cabinet meeting, set for Sunday, will likely address the ongoing situation. While Trump continues his pursuit of a resolution to the hostage crisis, Israel's unease about the direct talks persists. The question remains whether this unconventional approach will lead to meaningful results or whether it will further complicate an already volatile situation.