The US has agreed to push Israel to accept a three-month truce after Hamas reached out to a pro-Trump advocate to help secure the release of Israeli-American Edan Alexander, according to a new report.
A Hamas official stationed outside of Gaza formed a backchannel with the US to form the deal after getting hold of Bishara Bahbah, a Palestinian-American businessman and former leader of the “Arab Americans for Trump” group, officials told Axios.
“I am pleased that I contributed to the release of a fellow US citizen, Edan Alexander,” Bahbah told The Post.
“My goal has also been to see the end of the suffering and hunger of the besieged Palestinians in Gaza,” he added.
“I hope that this goodwill gesture will lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, followed by serious negotiations for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”
Bahbah helped pass some 20 messages between the US and Hamas in recent weeks, with the businessman connecting with Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya to facilitate Alexander’s release “for free” as a show of goodwill toward President Trump, according to Palestinian, Israeli and American officials.
Bahbah, a former associate director for Harvard University’s Middle East Institute, backed Trump during the 2024 presidential race, touting him as the best option for peace in Gaza.
The businessman has remained a staunch supporter of the president despite his continued arms support of Israel, with the group having since changed its name to “Arab Americans for Peace.”
In the backchannel talks, the White House told the terror group that if Alexander were freed, the US would pressure Israel to accept a 70- to 90-day cease-fire deal that would see 10 more hostages released.
During the cease-fire, Israel and Hamas would then go on to negotiate a final deal to end the war, which has raged on for more than 19 months following the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack.
Along with Bahbah, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani was credited with helping secure the deal.
Despite the agreement, Trump showed no signs of pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war or roll back the looming mass invasion into Gaza during their call on Monday, Axios reported.
Netanyahu has maintained that negotiations will only occur under fire, and that regardless of how many hostages Hamas frees, the war will continue until the terror group is eliminated.
Hamas still holds 58 hostages in Gaza, 35 to 38 of whom are believed to be dead, including four Israeli-Americans.
