"We are not prepared to just sit back for two weeks. We have a real opportunity to make some moves and bring the hostages home in the next few weeks," US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler told Kan public television.

Mr. Adam said that Hamas would eventually lay down its weapons and give up power in Gaza, while emphasizing that Washington "is not an agent of Israel." The above statements have met with a fierce reaction from the cabinet of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to The Guardian on March 11.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed the talks, saying it had conveyed its wishes to the US. Meanwhile, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stressed: "Mr. Boehler tried to negotiate the release of the American hostages. We made it clear that he cannot speak for us, and if he wants to negotiate on behalf of the US, good luck to him."

"Israel was stunned to discover that behind its back, a special envoy of the Trump administration had been meeting with senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya for weeks in Doha," Yedioth Ahronoth reported. "Hamas has gained something it could only dream of under former US President Joe Biden: legitimacy," the article said.

Hugh Lovatt, of the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the contacts were “quite a big deal”. “We’ll see how it plays out. This kind of contact could be positive. It could certainly move diplomacy forward.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on March 10 sought to further ease concerns about the talks between Mr Boehler and Hamas. "It was a one-off situation where our special envoy for hostage affairs had the opportunity to speak directly to someone who had control of the hostages and was given permission to do so. So far, it has not worked," Mr Rubio told reporters while flying to Saudi Arabia.

Secretary of State Rubio added that negotiations for the release of the hostages will continue to be carried out by US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

In another development, the Houthi group in Yemen warned on March 10 that they would take military measures immediately after the end of a four-day deadline to lift the aid blockade on Gaza. Israel has not commented on the information.