Shin Bet veteran confirms he held talks with Hamas’s Hamad; political echelon approved

Adi Rotem, a veteran of Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet, has confirmed that he engaged in direct talks with senior Hamas official Fathi Hamad, following approval from Israel's political echelon. Rotem stated that the decision to open a direct channel was prompted by the perception that mediation efforts led by Qatar were failing and that the mediator was not acting in good faith. According to Rotem, the killing of six Israeli hostages by Hamas in August 2024 served as the final catalyst for pursuing this alternative path. This report, published by The Times of Israel, highlights the behind-the-scenes efforts to address the hostage crisis at a time when traditional mediation channels were effectively stalled.