Former Shin Bet Negotiator Says Political Echelon Approved Direct Hamas Channel

Retired Shin Bet hostage negotiator Adi Rotem said he personally conducted direct telephone talks in 2024 with senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad. Rotem said he proposed the channel after mediated negotiations stalled and Hamas murdered six hostages in August 2024; then-agency chief Ronen Bar obtained political-echelon approval. The calls covered Palestinian security-prisoner names and helped overcome obstacles to the January 2025 hostage deal, according to Rotem. He said only Hamad joined the calls, he updated Bar after each conversation, and the authorization did not legitimize Hamas because the sides remained enemies at war.