It appears that the time given by US President Donald Trump to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “finish the job” in the Gaza Strip is running out, after Adam Boehler, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA), returned to his duties having pulled back following his meeting with Hamas leaders in Doha in March. Boehler praised Hamas’s flexibility in dealing with the captives’ issue, especially the American captive Edan Alexander.

Boehler’s return was linked to the revelation from Hamas that it had lost contact with those holding Alexander after being targeted in an Israeli air strike last Tuesday. This prompted Boehler to declare on Wednesday that he was certain that the hostage was in a safe place: “I hope no hair on his head is hurt, or we’re going to come for them, and it’s not going to be pretty. So, I believe Edan is fine.” This was an attempt to reassure the family of the American captive, who was expected to be released along with the bodies of four other captives last month.

Boehler would not have been able to speak confidently about this were it not for his direct contact with Hamas leaders.

This is not the only reason for Boehler’s return. His involvement in the captive issue, from which he was side-lined after his Hamas meeting, calling the movement’s officials “nice guys”, is taking place due to Trump’s latent desire to........

© Middle East Monitor