File Photo: Adam Boehler. AP
"Israel was consulted on this matter, and look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what's in the best interest of the American people is something that the President" believes is right, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
According to Axios, two sources with direct knowledge of the discussions said that the “Trump administration has been holding direct talks with Hamas” over the release of US captives held in Gaza and the possibility of a broader deal to end the war.
The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive meetings, said Axios.
The direct talks between a US official and Hamas, held in Doha in recent days, were the first of its kind since Washington designated the Palestinian group a terrorist organization in 1997.
The talks focused in part on the release of US captives held by Hamas, but they also included discussions of a broader deal to release all remaining captives and reach a long-term truce, the sources say.
No deal between the two sides has been reached, according to Axios.
On Tuesday, White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff cancelled a planned trip to Doha this week to discuss ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas with the prime minister of Qatar due to recent Hamas positions, a US official told Axios.
Earlier this week, Hamas rejected a US/Israeli proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire/prisoner swap deal, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US and in effect since 19 January, by one month without any providing any guarantee that Tel Aviv would agree to a permanent end to its war on the strip.
Axios had reported that five Americans, including 21-year-old Edan Alexander, are among the 59 Israeli captives still held by Hamas in Gaza.
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