Boehler (R) had been serving as an interim envoy, defending his decision to hold talks with Hamas [Getty]
The Trump administration has withdrawn its nominee for the role of US special envoy for hostage affairs following controversy over his direct talks with Hamas, the White House confirmed on Friday.
Adam Boehler, who had been serving as an interim envoy, will continue working on hostage negotiations for President Donald Trump in the role of “special government employee” rather than seeking Senate confirmation, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced.
Boehler, who led the first-ever direct US negotiations with the Palestinian Hamas group, a designated terror organisation in Washington, faced backlash from Republican senators.
A senior Trump administration official said the decision to withdraw Boehler’s nomination had been planned for two weeks, as he was being reassigned as a presidential spokesman with expanded authority.
Boehler played a key role in securing the release of Mark Vogel from Russia and will continue efforts to bring home unlawfully detained Americans, Leavitt said.
The US-Hamas talks have strained relations with Israel, which condemned the move and stressed Hamas was a “terrorist organisation”.
Ron Dermer, a close adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza –Â reportedly lashed out at Boehler for conducting the talks without Israeli involvement.
Boehler defended his decision to hold talks, arguing that diplomacy with Hamas was essential to securing the release of American captives still held in Gaza.
“We are not an agent of Israel. We have specific interests,” he reportedly said.
