US State Secretary Rubio downplays Boehler meetings with Hamas, says effort was 'one-off' that 'hasn't borne fruit’

After some outrage in Israel over direct talks between the United States and the terror organization Hamas, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to downplay the significance of those discussions on Monday. 

Speaking to reporters aboard a U.S. government flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for talks on the Russia-Ukraine war, Rubio also answered questions about the Gaza ceasefire. 

“Do you anticipate any more direct contact, direct communications with Hamas?” Rubio was asked by a reporter. 

“Well, that was a one-off situation in which our special envoy for hostages, whose job it is to get people released, had an opportunity to talk directly to someone who has control over these people and was given permission and encouraged to do so,” Rubio responded. “He did so; as of now, it hasn’t borne fruit.”  

However, Rubio supported the purpose of the initiative, saying the lack of results “doesn’t mean he was wrong to try.” 

The secretary also affirmed that, going forward, the United States would focus on negotiations through Middle Eastern special envoy Steve Witkoff. 

“But our primary vehicle for negotiations on this front will continue to be Mr. Witkoff and the work he’s doing through Qatar,” Rubio stated. 

When asked if he expected the direct negotiations through Adam Boehler to continue, Rubio responded, “As of now that was just the one.” 

“When you’re in the world of getting hostages released, you end up running into all kinds of people around the world,” Rubio continued. 

The state secretary went on to praise U.S. special hostage envoy Adam Boehler for his work during various hostage release scenarios while also indicating that the meetings were a result of a unique opportunity. 

“Mr. Boehler, who’s fantastic at what he does and has already had tremendous success in getting people released around the world – including some that have been underreported like in Belarus, where they were unilaterally released without any sort of concessions – had an opportunity to meet somewhere with someone linked to Hamas, and it was an opportunity he pursued to see if something could come of it,” Rubio stated. “As of now, nothing’s come of it.  So – but our primary focus is on the process happening in Qatar that Mr. Witkoff will be attending.” 

Boehler has raised some concerns in Israel after his meetings with Hamas became known, and following specific comments he made regarding the talks. 

Boehler appeared to downplay – and even dismiss – Israel’s concerns in an interview with CNN, stating that the U.S. is not “an agent of Israel.” 

At the same time, he said he was not bothered by Israel's concerns and wanted to ease fears over the talks. 

“Israel is our best ally,” Boehler stressed in the interview. 

Israel currently has a team in Doha, Qatar for talks. That team will be joined by Witkoff later on Tuesday.