Washington: US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler has withdrawn his nomination for the position, with plans to transition into a new envoy role that encompasses a wider mandate without requiring Senate confirmation, as confirmed by two White House officials to Axios.

According to Anadolu Agency, a senior Trump administration official mentioned that Boehler's withdrawal had been planned for two weeks to facilitate his reassignment. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted that Boehler would continue his service under President Donald Trump's administration. She stated, 'Adam Boehler will continue to serve President Trump as a special government employee focused on hostage negotiations.'

Boehler has been instrumental in the successful negotiation for the return of Marc Fogel from Russia. Leavitt noted his continued efforts to bring back wrongfully detained individuals from around the world.

Recently, Boehler engaged in discussions with senior Hamas officials in Doha, Qatar, to negotiate the release of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza, including five Americans, without the knowledge of Israel. In interviews with US and Israeli media, Boehler confirmed these direct talks with Hamas, aiming to secure the release of all Israeli hostages, including American citizens.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has downplayed the diplomatic concerns surrounding Boehler's engagement with Hamas, describing it as a 'one-off situation,' while affirming Boehler's effectiveness in hostage negotiations. Rubio stated, 'Boehler is fantastic at what he does and has already had tremendous success in getting people released around the world.'

The Palestinian group Hamas announced on Friday that it has approved a mediators' proposal to resume negotiations by releasing an Israeli soldier with American citizenship and returning the bodies of four dual-national Israelis.