The US is holding talks with Hamas over the hostages held in Gaza, the White House has confirmed. Washington has until now avoided direct engagement with the group, and there is a longstanding US policy against having direct contact with entities it lists as terrorist organisations. Two direct meetings have taken place between Hamas and a US official, preceded by several communications, a Palestinian source told the BBC. The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a briefing that Israel had been consulted prior to the talks. News of the talks was first reported by Axios, which said the two sides were meeting in Qatar to discuss the release of US hostages as well as a wider deal to end the war. The special envoy for hostages, Adam Boehler’s work was a “good faith effort to do what’s right for the American people”, Leavitt said. President Trump believed in doing what was in the best interest of the American people, Leavitt said. Israel said there are still 59 hostages being held in Gaza, with up to 24 believed to be alive. US citizens are also among the captives. A former US deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for the Middle East said the US needs to be “more proactive” about getting its citizens back.
Source link
