According to US officials talking to Israel, Palestinians and Axios, Gaza’s last American, Edan Alexander, began with a message from Hamas officials from Vishara Baba, the leader of “Arab Americans for Trump.”
Hamas tried to persuade President Trump to increase pressure on Israel, but Trump’s team focused on ensuring Alexander’s freedom. Baba, a Palestinian-American businessman who supported Trump by attracting Arab voters during the 2024 campaign, has emerged as an unlikely intermediary.
The dialogue began in late April when Hamas officials outside Gaza contacted Bakhba to begin communicating with Trump envoy Steve Witkov. Though slow to gain traction, the back channel was strengthened last week, with around 20 messages being exchanged via calls and texts to Barba. Witkov, supported by Qatari officials and Baba, confirmed Hamas that freeing Alexander without conditions would have a major impact on Trump.
On Sunday, around 10pm, Hamas officially agreed to release Alexander. Witkov then informed Alexander’s parents of the much-anticipated news, marking emotional moments on both sides. Israeli officials learned of these secret talks not from the White House but through their intelligence agency. When Ron Dahmer, an aide to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s, visited Washington, his US counterparts refused to disclose his back channel and urged Dahmer to raise the issue himself. Witkov confirmed the consultation, but emphasized that Israel had no need to make concessions and that Hamas had not yet agreed to release it.
Previous attempts to negotiate Alexander’s release included an unprecedented in-person meeting between Trump’s hostage envoy Adam Bohler and Qatar’s Hamas leader in March. Those talks, which were linked to Hamas’ demands for the release of 250 prisoners held by Israel, collapsed hours before Trump’s coalition speech. Trump’s advisors suspect that Netanyahu’s aides may have leaked talks to the press to undermine the deal. Witkov later proposed Hamas’ plans to release Alexander if Trump publicly called for a temporary ceasefire and broader negotiations, but Hamas refused.
Meanwhile, Israel escalated its military operations in Gaza, increasing ground intrusions, air strikes and humanitarian blockades. On April 22, Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani met with Trump and Witkov at the White House and presented Hamas-supported proposals for the release of comprehensive hostages and contracts for war. The US preferred a shorter partial agreement. Back in Doha, Al Thani conveyed this to Hamas, encouraging a good-willed gesture towards Trump, leading to an outreach to Baba.
On Sunday, while negotiating with Iranian foreign minister in Muscat, Witkov coordinated with Qatar’s prime minister to finalise the deal. According to Palestinian officials, the Trump administration provided Hamas with a 70-90-day ceasefire and the start of final negotiations in exchange for releasing Alexander and 10 other hostages, ensuring that guarantees from the US, Qatar and Egypt would not be revived during the ceasefire. The US has not reviewed these details.
Following the Hamas agreement, Witkov notified the families of Netanyahu, Dahmer and Alexander. High-ranking US officials recognized Qatar’s role in persuading Hamas, recognized Netanyahu’s military campaign as instrumental, and downplayed Baba’s involvement as tangential.
On a call Monday, Trump did not push Netanyahu to stop the war or cancel major ground operations planned in Gaza. Israeli officials noted that Hamas has not received a commitment from Trump. Their hopes to shake him towards their side did not come true. Hamas took a calculated risk and accepted the limited benefits of US sympathy and the official statement from Trump.
Looking ahead, Witkov and Israeli negotiators will travel to Doha to resume consultations on the wider Gaza ceasefire and hostage contracts. Israeli officials remain skeptical of the breakthrough and warn Witkov that there will be four days to secure deals before a new military attack begins.