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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Who Is Bishara Bahbah? Trump's Palestinian-American Backchannel With Hamas
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. With reports of a new setback in the White House's efforts to strike a new ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the man serving as an unofficial conduit between President Donald Trump and the Palestinian militant group has increasingly emerged in the spotlight. Bishara Bahbah is a Palestinian-American activist and academic whose position in facilitating talks between the Trump administration and Hamas was first revealed earlier this month by the Times of Israel, following discussions that led to the release of dual U.S.-Israeli national Edan Alexander from Gaza. He's since been tasked with helping to secure a broader agreement that would involve the release of additional hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a temporary ceasefire. Yet diverging details have surfaced of the proposal put forth by Trump's official representative, Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Bishara Bahbah, then serving as national chairman for Arab Americans for Trump, answers questions during an interview with the Associated Press, on August 14, 2024, in Dearborn, Michigan. Bishara Bahbah, then serving as national chairman for Arab Americans for Trump, answers questions during an interview with the Associated Press, on August 14, 2024, in Dearborn, Michigan. Jose Juarez/AP After Reuters reported Monday, citing an unnamed Palestinian official, that Hamas had agreed to the U.S. offer, Witkoff dismissed the news, saying that what he had seen from Hamas was "completely unacceptable." Newsweek has reached out to Bahbah, the Israeli Consulate General in New York, Hamas and the White House for comment. From Scholar to Statesman Bahbah was born in 1958 in East Jerusalem to parents who fled the first Arab-Israeli war over competing Israeli and Palestinian territorial claims. His family settled in the United States in the 1970s, according to the New Arab, and he went on to earn a finance degree at Harvard University. Bahbah held a number of positions, including editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem-based newspaper Al-Fajr and associate director of Harvard's Middle East Institute, before serving as a representative to Middle East arms control and regional security peace talks. He outlined his views regarding past and future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations during a February 2021 interview with the Wilson Center. "With regarding to the format of any future negotiations, I think that they should be more interactive," Bahbah said at the time. "You don't make policies by reading speeches. You make policies by sitting together and outlining each other's concerns regarding the issues that they are negotiating over. The parties should be clear about what each side hopes to achieve because of those negotiations. The more face-to-face negotiations are, the more they will tend to be fruitful." "And in negotiations, if you start with posturing, you get nowhere, because it then becomes a zero-sum exercise," he added. "Successful negotiations happen when the two sides see the benefits that each side hopes to achieve from those negotiations." Bahbah also served as managing director of the charity United Palestinian Appeal and founded the Palestine Center, both based in Washington, D.C. A longtime Democrat, according to an interview conducted last June by TRT World, he broke with President Joe Biden's administration over its handling of the war in Gaza, which erupted in October 2023 following a Hamas-led attack on Israel. He first joined the Trump campaign last May, establishing "Arab Americans for a Better America," followed by "Arab Americans for Trump" to rally Arab support for the Republican candidate. Bahbah has also expressed criticism of Trump's approach to the conflict, however, rebranding "Arab Americans for Trump" to "Arab Americans for Peace" in response to Trump's proposal of resettling Palestinians outside of Gaza in February. Yet he appears to have only grown more central to Trump's attempts to secure a new ceasefire deal after the previous agreement brokered by the incoming administration's team, spearheaded by Witkoff, along with Biden's outgoing team in January unraveled in March. U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a swearing-in ceremony for Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in the Oval Office at the White House on May 06, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a swearing-in ceremony for Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in the Oval Office at the White House on May 06, 2025 in Washington, told Israel's Channel 12 outlet last month that he was contacted directly by Hamas spokesperson Ghazi Hamad, who asked him to open a new channel with U.S. officials, ultimately leading to Alexander's release. Communication Breakdown While Alexander's release appeared to signal a potential breakthrough, negotiations in Doha have continued to stall, with Qatari Prime Minister Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani citing "fundamental differences between parties" last week. A number of Arabic-language outlets, including Al Mayadeen, Al Jazeera and Sky News Arabia reported Monday that Hamas had agreed to a U.S. deal that would include a ceasefire lasting between 60 and 70 days, as well as U.S. guarantees that Israel would not immediately resume the war after this period, in exchange for the release of five living hostages on the first day of the truce and an additional five on the last day. Axios reported Tuesday that this deal differed from Witkoff's proposal, which would entail a ceasefire lasting between 45 and 60 days in exchange for the release of 19 living hostages and 10 deceased hostages, along with the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The Axios report also cited an unnamed Israeli official alleging that Bahbah may have gone beyond the guidelines provided to him by Witkoff in negotiating with Hamas representatives in Doha. New Operations Loom The latest setback came as Israel prepared to intensify operations in the Gaza Strip in line with "Operations Gideon's Chariots," described by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as the second phase of its efforts to defeat Hamas, neutralize the threat posed by Gaza and return the remaining hostages held there. IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned residents of Khan Younis, Bani Suhaila, Abasan and Al-Qaraa on Monday of an imminent "unprecedented attack to destroy the capabilities of terrorist organizations," urging them to evacuate west to Al-Mawasi. People watch as smoke billows following an Israeli strike in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip on May 25, 2025. People watch as smoke billows following an Israeli strike in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip on May 25, 2025. BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images The IDF announced that same day that forces of the 36th Division had completed operations in Gaza's southern region of Rafah and would be advancing into Khan Younis. Their operations have led to the creation of a so-called "Morag Corridor," between the two regions, establishing a third axis of Israeli control in Gaza following the IDF's earlier establishment of control over the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between Rafah and Egypt, and the Netzarim Corridor between Gaza City and northern Gaza. Yet Israel's offensive has also been met with growing international condemnation, as well as indications of a growing rift between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump reiterated his desire for Israel to conclude the war in a timely manner, a sentiment he had repeatedly conveyed to Netanyahu prior to taking office in January. "We want to see if we can stop that," Trump said. "And Israel, we've been talking to them, and we want to see if we can stop that whole situation as quickly as possible." With Israeli officials cited by Israeli outlets rejecting Hamas' latest proposal on Monday, Netanyahu initially appeared to indicate that a breakthrough on talks was imminent, saying "I really hope we can announce something regarding the hostages, if not today, then tomorrow" in a video statement. However, a senior Israeli official cited by the Times of Israel later downplayed the remarks, saying the "the prime minister meant that we will not give up on freeing our hostages, and if we don't achieve that, hopefully in the coming days, we will achieve it later on." Hamas, meanwhile, has continued to call for global pressure against Israel over its "its brutal aggression against the Gaza Strip, which escalates its war of genocide and starvation against defenseless civilians, children, and women for 600 days; in a blatant violation of all international norms, laws, and divine teachings, and in shameless disregard for all UN resolutions and the positions of nations rejecting such crimes," according to a statement issued Tuesday. The group called for "days of global rage" to be held worldwide this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. "We the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), renew our call to the masses of our Ummah (Islamic world) and the free people worldwide to intensify all forms of global mobilization and action in cities and squares across the world against the aggression, genocide, and starvation inflicted upon our people in the Gaza Strip," the group said.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Marc Copani talks journey from WWE's controversial Muhammad Hassan to history teacher: ‘Blurred the lines'
Marc Copani was on the verge of potentially becoming a world champion in WWE before arguably the company's most controversial character collided with real-life tragedy Copani, an Italian American, had been playing the hated Middle Eastern character Muhammad Hassan so well since September 2004 that he became one of WWE's top bad guys at the time. Hassan began as someone railing against the mistreatment of Arab Americans three years after 9/11 and the beginning of the War on Terror and more than a year after the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. By 2005, the Syracuse native found himself in a feud with The Undertaker, with the payoff planned to be him beating World Heavyweight champion Batista at SummerSlam in Washington D.C. in August.
Egypt Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
US envoy says Gaza ceasefire deal is on the table, as Israel prepares for ‘unprecedented attack'
Jerusalem CNN — US special envoy Steve Witkoff has told CNN that a ceasefire-hostage deal for Gaza is currently on the table with a pathway to end the war, and urged Hamas to accept it. The proposal would see the release of half of the living hostages and half of those who have died in exchange for a temporary ceasefire before negotiations begin for a comprehensive agreement to end the war. He declined to specify how long that temporary truce would last, which has been a key issue in the negotiations. 'Israel will agree to a temporary ceasefire/hostage deal that would see half of the living and half of the deceased return and lead to substantive negotiations to find a path to a permanent ceasefire, which I have agreed to preside over,' Witkoff told CNN on Monday. 'That deal is on the table. Hamas should take it.' He said Hamas has yet to accept the deal. Reuters reported earlier on Monday that Hamas had agreed to a proposal that would see the release of 10 hostages in two groups in exchange for a 70-day truce. Witkoff told CNN that was not his proposal. 'What I have seen is completely unacceptable,' Witkoff said, referring to the report. Meanwhile, a Palestinian official close to the negotiations also told CNN that Hamas has agreed to Witkoff's proposal, but did not provide additional details about what the deal entailed. A US official told CNN Witkoff has not met directly with Hamas. According to a source familiar with the matter, Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah met with Hamas in Doha about the proposal. Bahbah, who led the group 'Arab Americans for Trump' during the 2024 presidential campaign, has been working on behalf of the administration. Witkoff's comments to CNN mark the first time he has said he would preside over negotiations for an end to the war during the temporary ceasefire. Hamas has long sought assurances that Israel seriously engages in negotiations to end the war if it agrees to another temporary ceasefire, after Israel refused to do so during the last truce. Witkoff's involvement in negotiating a permanent ceasefire appears to be aimed at providing Hamas with assurances from Washington that Israel will engage in such negotiations in the future. CNN has reached out to the Israeli government for comment. In a video message posted to social media on Monday night, Netanyahu said getting the hostages released is a top priority. 'I very much hope we'll have something to announce on that front,' he said. 'And if not today, then tomorrow – we are not giving up.' Two Israeli officials later clarified that there was 'no progress' in the negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal and that 'Hamas continued to hold firm in its refusal.' 'The prime minister meant that a breakthrough could happen only if Hamas aligns with the Israeli position,' one of the officials said. Plans for an 'unprecedented attack' The proposal comes at a crucial point in the war, as the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for most of southern Gaza ahead of what its spokesperson said would be an 'unprecedented attack' on the territory. The order covers the city of Khan Younis and much of the surrounding area, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Arabic language spokesperson Avichay Adree. He described the Khan Younis governorate as a 'dangerous fighting zone that has been warned several times.' The evacuation zone goes all the way south to the Gaza-Egypt border where Israeli forces have occupied the Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometer (8-mile) strip along the frontier. It appears to include the entirety of Khan Younis, a densely packed city with many displaced Palestinians. The order instructs Palestinians to move to the Al-Mawasi area, a narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea. Earlier Monday, the IDF said three rockets were fired from southern Gaza, two of which landed within the Gazan territory and one of which was intercepted. The order, which also cover parts of eastern Gaza, comes after the military laid out its strategy to take control of the territory, where it has been fighting a war since October 2023 to eradicate Hamas following the militant group's attack on Israel. An Israeli military official told CNN on Monday that Israel plans to occupy 75% of Gaza within two months as part of its new offensive. If carried out, the plan would force more than two million Palestinians into a quarter of the coastal enclave, surrounded on nearly all sides by Israeli forces. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this month the entire population would be displaced to southern Gaza. The IDF now has five divisions operating in Gaza, the military said Friday, totaling tens of thousands of troops. On a visit to troops in Khan Younis Sunday, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said, 'You are fighting on the central front of the state of Israel. This is a prolonged, multi-arena war.' On Monday, Hamas' Government Media Office said Israel already 'effectively' controls 77% of Gaza through 'heavy firepower that prevents Palestinian civilians from accessing their homes, areas, lands, and properties, or through oppressive forced evacuation policies.' Israel is under growing international pressure – including from long standing allies – over its decision to expand the war and, in the words of one Israeli minister, 'conquer' the territory. The United Kingdom has paused trade talks and sanctioned extremist settlers in the West Bank. Canada and France have threatened sanctions. And the European Union – Israel's biggest trade partner – is reviewing its landmark Association Agreement with the country. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told German public broadcaster ARD on Monday that the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza 'can no longer be justified on the grounds of a fight against Hamas terrorism.' US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, however, reiterated US support for Israel on Sunday. She met with Netanyahu and expressed appreciation for the prime minister's conduct of the war, according to a statement from the Israeli Government Press Office. CNN's Dana Karni, Lauren Izso and Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
US envoy says Gaza ceasefire deal is on the table, as Israel prepares for ‘unprecedented attack'
JERUSALEM — US special envoy Steve Witkoff has told CNN that a ceasefire-hostage deal for Gaza is currently on the table with a pathway to end the war, and urged Hamas to accept it. The proposal would see the release of half of the living hostages and half of those who have died in exchange for a temporary ceasefire before negotiations begin for a comprehensive agreement to end the war. He declined to specify how long that temporary truce would last, which has been a key issue in the negotiations. 'Israel will agree to a temporary ceasefire/hostage deal that would see half of the living and half of the deceased return and lead to substantive negotiations to find a path to a permanent ceasefire, which I have agreed to preside over,' Witkoff told CNN on Monday. 'That deal is on the table. Hamas should take it.' He said Hamas has yet to accept the deal. Reuters reported earlier on Monday that Hamas had agreed to a proposal that would see the release of 10 hostages in two groups in exchange for a 70-day truce. Witkoff told CNN that was not his proposal. 'What I have seen is completely unacceptable,' Witkoff said, referring to the report. Meanwhile, a Palestinian official close to the negotiations also told CNN that Hamas has agreed to Witkoff's proposal, but did not provide additional details about what the deal entailed. A US official told CNN Witkoff has not met directly with Hamas. According to a source familiar with the matter, Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah met with Hamas in Doha about the proposal. Bahbah, who led the group 'Arab Americans for Trump' during the 2024 presidential campaign, has been working on behalf of the administration. Witkoff's comments to CNN mark the first time he has said he would preside over negotiations for an end to the war during the temporary ceasefire. Hamas has long sought assurances that Israel seriously engages in negotiations to end the war if it agrees to another temporary ceasefire, after Israel refused to do so during the last truce. Witkoff's involvement in negotiating a permanent ceasefire appears to be aimed at providing Hamas with assurances from Washington that Israel will engage in such negotiations in the future. CNN has reached out to the Israeli government for comment. In a video message posted to social media on Monday night, Netanyahu said getting the hostages released is a top priority. 'I very much hope we'll have something to announce on that front,' he said. 'And if not today, then tomorrow – we are not giving up.' Two Israeli officials later clarified that there was 'no progress' in the negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal and that 'Hamas continued to hold firm in its refusal.' 'The prime minister meant that a breakthrough could happen only if Hamas aligns with the Israeli position,' one of the officials said. The proposal comes at a crucial point in the war, as the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for most of southern Gaza ahead of what its spokesperson said would be an 'unprecedented attack' on the territory. The order covers the city of Khan Younis and much of the surrounding area, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Arabic language spokesperson Avichay Adree. He described the Khan Younis governorate as a 'dangerous fighting zone that has been warned several times.' The evacuation zone goes all the way south to the Gaza-Egypt border where Israeli forces have occupied the Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometer (8-mile) strip along the frontier. It appears to include the entirety of Khan Younis, a densely packed city with many displaced Palestinians. The order instructs Palestinians to move to the Al-Mawasi area, a narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea. Earlier Monday, the IDF said three rockets were fired from southern Gaza, two of which landed within the Gazan territory and one of which was intercepted. The order, which also cover parts of eastern Gaza, comes after the military laid out its strategy to take control of the territory, where it has been fighting a war since October 2023 to eradicate Hamas following the militant group's attack on Israel. An Israeli military official told CNN on Monday that Israel plans to occupy 75% of Gaza within two months as part of its new offensive. If carried out, the plan would force more than two million Palestinians into a quarter of the coastal enclave, surrounded on nearly all sides by Israeli forces. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this month the entire population would be displaced to southern Gaza. The IDF now has five divisions operating in Gaza, the military said Friday, totaling tens of thousands of troops. On a visit to troops in Khan Younis Sunday, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said, 'You are fighting on the central front of the state of Israel. This is a prolonged, multi-arena war.' On Monday, Hamas' Government Media Office said Israel already 'effectively' controls 77% of Gaza through 'heavy firepower that prevents Palestinian civilians from accessing their homes, areas, lands, and properties, or through oppressive forced evacuation policies.' Israel is under growing international pressure – including from long standing allies – over its decision to expand the war and, in the words of one Israeli minister, 'conquer' the territory. The United Kingdom has paused trade talks and sanctioned extremist settlers in the West Bank. Canada and France have threatened sanctions. And the European Union – Israel's biggest trade partner – is reviewing its landmark Association Agreement with the country. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told German public broadcaster ARD on Monday that the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza 'can no longer be justified on the grounds of a fight against Hamas terrorism.' US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, however, reiterated US support for Israel on Sunday. She met with Netanyahu and expressed appreciation for the prime minister's conduct of the war, according to a statement from the Israeli Government Press Office. — CNN
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's unlikely new Gaza middle man is a novice professor with a direct line to Hamas
Bishara Bahbah was as mystified as anyone else about becoming the main backchannel between the United States government and Hamas. The Palestinian-American business consultant, who founded Arab Americans for Trump, received a phone call from a senior Hamas member in late April, asking him to pass a message on to Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration's special envoy to the Middle East. Hamas was willing to release all the Israeli hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, said Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas's political leadership based in Doha. So Mr Bahbah, who still lacks a Wikipedia page, picked up the phone and called Mr Witkoff. 'Obviously, if I were in Steve Witkoff's position, I would have said to myself, 'who the hell is he to be talking to me?' And I can understand that,' Mr Bahbah told Israel's Channel 12 news. But Mr Witkoff did pick up the phone, and today the novice go-between finds himself at the centre of US efforts to end the war in Gaza, once more shuttling messages between Hamas and the Trump administration. Credit: Israeli Prime Ministry Official talks are under way in Doha. But an Israeli source told the Axios news website that these were a 'facade' and the 'real negotiations are happening elsewhere'. It would appear that much rests on the shoulders of Mr Bahbah, whose résumé includes a stint at the Middle East institute of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, another at a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, and writing the book Wealth Management in Any Market. Like many other political neophytes, the Harvard PhD was rocketed to power by his embrace of Donald Trump. In 2020, he voted for Joe Biden. But after Israel launched its war on Hamas following the October 7 massacre, he became convinced the Democrats would do nothing to rein in the killing of Palestinians. With Arab Americans for Trump, he urged Muslim voters to switch allegiance. And they did – Mr Trump swung Dearborn, the US county with the highest population of Arab Americans, in last year's election. It was at a rally in Troy, Michigan, that Mr Bahbah first met members of the Trump team. One was Massad Boulos, the Lebanese-American billionaire who is father-in-law to Mr Trump's daughter, Tiffany. Together, the two men began working to shift the president's views on Palestine, forming a bulwark against Israeli efforts to deepen US support for the war in Gaza. Their rise reflects a 'broader transformation in the mechanics of American diplomacy', says Dr Habib al-Badawi, a professor at the Lebanese University in Beirut, foregrounding his 'reliance on parallel, personality-driven channels alongside official ones'. The first coup was a letter from Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority (PA). During his first term, Mr Abbas had cut off all talks with the US, incensed by Mr Trump's proposal to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and a peace plan that favoured the Israeli perspective. 'Everything will be good,' Mr Trump replied to Mr Abbas's letter, which criticised the assassination attempts he had faced and expressed hopes for better relations. The letter was Mr Bahbah's brainchild. 'I'm going to be meeting with the president. I would like to hand him a letter,' he told Mr Abbas' team. They replied that the veteran PA president had already condemned the assassination attempts in a statement to the Palestinian news agency. 'Who the hell reads the Palestinian news agency?' Mr Bahbah replied, according to an interview he gave to the New Yorker. Whether Hamas reads the New Yorker or not is unclear, but they chose the same avenue to reach the president in April. Suha, the widow of Yasser Arafat, the late PA president, gave Hamas Mr Bahbah's number, according to the Times of Israel. A call was arranged. Having passed Hamas's message on to Mr Witkoff, Mr Bahbah gave the reply: there could be no guarantee the president would push for a total end to the war, but releasing Edan Alexander, the last US citizen held hostage, would build trust – and perhaps lead to renewed deliveries of aid. Ahead of Mr Trump's visit to the Middle East last week, the IDF soldier was set free. Israel only found out about the bilateral negotiations through its own intelligence agencies, much to official dismay. In total, some 20 messages were passed between the two sides via Mr Bahbah, Axios reported. The middleman even spoke directly with Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas's chief negotiator. Today, Israeli officials fear they have lost the president's ear. The latest US proposal, according to Axios, is for a 45 to 60 day ceasefire in exchange for the release of 10 hostages. But it includes language that suggests the pause in fighting will be tied to a broader push to end the war permanently, approaching Hamas's key goal. According to the Washington Post, the president's allies have warned Israel: 'We will abandon you if you do not end this war.' Mr Trump himself has recently demonstrated a surprising willingness to spurn Israel's wishes, backing the bilateral negotiations over Mr Alexander's release and ending sanctions on Syria. It has not all been smooth sailing for Mr Bahbah. Earlier this year, he broke with the president he helped to elect by renaming his group Arab Americans for Peace after Mr Trump said he would turn Gaza into the 'Riviera of the Middle East'. In an interview with the BBC, he described talks with 'hawkish' members of the Trump team who asked him to come up with ways to end the conflict that did not involve a two-state solution. There was none, he replied. But he said: 'I believe the president will deliver [peace]... irrespective of the stumbles and blocks.' Another ceasefire remains some way in the distance. An end to the war further still. But if one comes about, Mr Bahbah will have played an important role – and can consider his gamble on the president to have paid off. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
