The Trump administration has been conducting secret talks with Hamas on the possibility of releasing US hostages being held in Gaza, sources briefed on the conversations told Reuters.
US special envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler held the direct negotiations with Hamas in Doha in recent weeks, the sources said.
The previous US role in helping to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Gaza conflict has been dealing with Israel and Qatari and Egyptian mediators but without any known direct communications between Washington and Hamas.
Axios was first to report on the Doha discussions. It was unclear when or how the Israeli government was informed of the talks.
The sources said the talks have focused on gaining the release of American hostages still held in Gaza, but one said they also have included discussions about a broader deal to release all remaining hostages and how to reach a long-term truce.
Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff plans to return to the region in the coming days to work out a way to either extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal or advance to the second phase, a State Department spokesperson said on Monday.
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