White House Confirms Direct Talks Between US and Hamas By The Media Line Staff The US has held direct talks with Hamas for the first time, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Wednesday. The discussions, facilitated by Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries, took place in Doha over the past month with the goal of […]
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The Media Line: White House Confirms Direct Talks Between US and Hamas
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White House Confirms Direct Talks Between US and Hamas
By The Media Line Staff
The US has held direct talks with Hamas for the first time, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Wednesday. The discussions, facilitated by Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries, took place in Doha over the past month with the goal of securing the release of American hostages held in Gaza.
The US has long refused to engage directly with Hamas, which it designated a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. Leavitt said the Trump administration consulted Israel before the meetings, adding, “There are American lives at stake.”
Leavitt confirmed that Adam Boehler, President Donald Trump’s special envoy for hostage affairs, had led the negotiations. The discussions reportedly focused on the release of Edan Alexander, 21, the only known American hostage still alive, as well as the remains of several other American-Israeli hostages.
Hours before Leavitt issued a confirmation, multiple US news organizations reported on the talks. Some reports cited anonymous Hamas officials who confirmed the meetings and said broader issues were also discussed.
Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Consul General of Israel in New York Ofir Akunis expressed his approval for the talks. “If the White House wants to talk directly to Hamas and put them under pressure to release more hostages, we will be very happy to see more hostages with our families,” he said.