PNN – Bishara Bahbah, a former Harvard University professor and political activist with variable political positions, has this time emerged as a bridge between Trump and Hamas; a path that began with Trump’s campaign and led to talks with Palestinian resistance leaders.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, the American news outlet Axios revealed in a report that the Hamas movement recently entered into secret talks with those close to the US President through an Arab activist who supports Donald Trump. The goal of these talks is to try to free Aidan Alexander, the last “American-Israeli” prisoner in the Gaza Strip.
According to Axios, these consultations were mediated by “Bishara Bahbah,” a figure unknown to the public but with a strong background in American political circles, especially in relation to the Palestinian issue. His contacts with “Khalil al-Hayyah,” a senior Hamas leader, are said to have paved the way for the opening of this communication channel.
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Who is Bishara Bahbah?
Born in Jerusalem in 1958, Bishara Bahbah is an American citizen. He completed his education in the United States and holds a doctorate in regional security from Brigham Young University in Utah. He has also taught courses on the Middle East at Harvard University and was a member of the Palestinian delegation to the 1991 and 1993 peace talks.
Ambiguous political turns
According to Axios, Bahbah’s political career has been full of twists and turns. He was once a supporter of Barack Obama, but later joined the Trump campaign and even launched a campaign called “Arab Americans for Trump.”
However, after Trump’s controversial remarks about the need to “clear Gaza of Palestinians,” he distanced himself from him and changed the name of his campaign to “Arab Americans for Peace.” This retreat did not last, and in the 2024 election, he returned to the Trump camp and made a massive effort to attract votes from the Arab American community.
Behind-the-scenes mediation
Basharat Bahbah’s new role is as an informal mediator between Trump and Hamas. According to Axios, he has also discussed the possibility of a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip with Hamas leaders, including Ghazi Hamad, and has conveyed some of the proposals to US envoy Whittaker.
Studies show that Bahbah’s selection as a mediator was not an official one, but was shaped by his dual connections and influences in the political space of the United States and the Middle East. Analysts consider this type of role-playing to be indicative of the power of hidden networks and non-state actors in sensitive international equations.
Axios wrote that Bechara Bahbah is now seen as an example of an “opportunistic mediator”; a figure who, without formal responsibility, can become a hidden tool for achieving behind-the-scenes goals at critical junctures.