Ghazi Hamad

Fatah official: Israel, Hamas in direct talks

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that Israel and Hamas, are engaged in direct contact. Ghazi Hamad, the go-between who, on behalf of Hamas, oversaw at the time the negotiations for the release of Shalit, working with Gershon Baskin. According to a Palestinian source, “When President Abbas says there are contacts, this is based on vetted information that we have gathered and cross-referenced”.

Khaled Meshaal

The Qatar channel between Gaza and Israel

Gershon Baskin and senior Hamas member Ghazi Hamad established a relationship that emerged out of necessity because there were no other options. That private channel succeeded when all others failed and the channel has continued to operate, even after the Shalit deal was reached, particularly when it became necessary to relay messages rapidly between the two parties to avoid military escalation.