Hamas reached out to Arab-American Trump contact to initiate captive deal: Report

Hamas was the side that began the outreach to US President Donald Trump toward a deal to free a US-Israeli dual national from captivity in Gaza, Axios has reported, and the group did it via an Arab-American Trump contact with no role in the administration. 

That contact was Bishara Bahbah, who previously led Arab Americans for Trump, and has since changed the name to Arab Americans For Peace after Trump proposed turning the Strip into a beach resort. 

Bahbah was key to building support for Trump among Arab Americans prior to the 2024 election. 

Axios, via Israeli intelligence sources, said that Bahbah was contacted by a Hamas official outside Gaza to initiate talks to release US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who was captured by Hamas on 7 October 2023. 

It was through Bahbah that Hamas was able to reach Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Axios said.