Palestinian-American Billionaire Bashar Al-Masri Linked to U.S. Envoy’s Middle East Negotiations
Reports reveal Al-Masri as a key advisor to Trump’s envoy for Israeli hostages, using his private jet—once Arafat’s—to facilitate high-level regional talks.
Watan-Israeli media reported on Wednesday that Palestinian-American billionaire Bashar Al-Masri is the closest advisor to Adam Boehler, U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy for Israeli detainees. Additionally, Boehler is reportedly using Al-Masri’s private jet—a plane that was previously designated for late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat—to travel across the region.
According to the Hebrew newspaper Ma’ariv, Al-Masri may be Trump’s key figure for what is being called the “day after” the war on Gaza. The paper cited unnamed political sources, claiming that:
“Bashar Al-Masri is Adam Boehler’s secret and closest advisor… He is the man trying to find solutions in negotiations with Hamas and is a central figure in this process.”
A Key Figure in U.S.-Palestinian Relations
The report suggested that, while Israel has billionaire Dr. Miriam Adelson in Washington as a close ally of Trump, Palestinians have Bashar Al-Masri in Ramallah and Washington, describing him as:
“Very, very close to the Americans.”
Sources from both the U.S. and Israeli sides claim that Boehler has been traveling around the region for months on Al-Masri’s private jet, with trips dating back to before Trump’s presidency and continuing afterward.
Al-Masri himself has reportedly quietly participated in some of these trips, which included visits to Doha, Cairo, and other regional capitals as part of negotiations for the release of Israeli detainees and other diplomatic discussions.
Al-Masri’s Business Influence and Role in Gaza’s Reconstruction
Ma’ariv noted that Al-Masri holds a significant position within Trump’s inner circle, partly due to his success as a businessman—he built the Rawabi city project and has investments across multiple countries.
The report emphasized that:
- Al-Masri is not affiliated with Hamas or Fatah.
- He has no involvement in armed resistance.
- He could be the U.S. and Palestinian leadership’s hope for the “day after” the Gaza war, potentially playing a role in rebuilding the Strip.
However, when asked about Al-Masri’s role, a spokesperson for Boehler declined to comment.
Haaretz: Increased Flights from Ben Gurion Using Al-Masri’s Jet
According to Haaretz, open-source flight data shows a sharp increase in the number of flights made by Al-Masri’s jet from Ben Gurion Airport since Trump’s election and Boehler’s appointment.
Since December of last year, the aircraft has reportedly made frequent trips to Doha, Cairo, Riyadh, Istanbul, and Ankara. Last weekend, it returned from Doha, and two weeks ago, Boehler visited Baghdad, where he reportedly pressured the Iraqi Prime Minister to secure the release of Israeli hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov.
Arafat’s Former Presidential Jet Now Used for Diplomatic Missions
According to Haaretz, Boehler regularly travels on a Challenger 604 business jet, which was previously designated for Yasser Arafat’s presidential flights.
- The plane was originally registered in Austria under the tail code OE-IYA, which included Arafat’s initials.
- In May 2016, the aircraft changed ownership, being re-registered in the Isle of Man under a Cyprus-based company named “Dorstel Limited.”
- Since then, the jet has been stationed at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, operating under a special exemption from the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority.
The revelations highlight Al-Masri’s potential role in regional diplomacy, particularly regarding the future of Gaza, and raise questions about his growing influence in high-level U.S. and Israeli negotiations.
