The Hamas-Israel ceasefire remains in effect as Hamas leaders express cautious optimism regarding the new United States administration's approach to Middle East negotiations. Basem Naim, a Hamas leader in Doha, indicated that the group is open to discussions with any party, including the Trump administration, to pursue statehood and self-determination for Palestinians, emphasizing the importance of interests over personal opinions.
In a related development, Richard Grenell, the U.S. special envoy, is scheduled to meet with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 31, 2025. This meeting follows Maduro's controversial re-election on January 10, 2025. Republican Congressman Rick Scott has stated that Grenell should demand the release of eight detained Americans in Venezuela, most of whom have been held since 2024.
The detained individuals include Gregory David Werber, David Guttenberg Guillarme, Aaron Barrett Logan, Jonathan Pagán González, Wilbert Joseph Castaño, David Estrella, José Marcelo Vargas, and Lucas Hunter (a French-American). Scott also expressed hopes that Grenell would negotiate the return of Venezuelan gang members currently in the U.S. and seek a new country for Maduro and his associates.