Consultations will take place as Israel continues to block the supply of humanitarian aid in Gaza after the first phase of the ceasefire expires.
The US is engaged in a direct meeting with Hamas as negotiations on a ceasefire agreement between Palestinian armed groups and Israel hang in threads.
“These are ongoing consultations and discussions. We don’t go into detail here. There’s American life.
“To interact, interact and speak with people all over the world for the best interests of the American people is what the President has proved he believes. [a] Honesty, an effort to do what is right for Americans,” Leavitt said.
Adam Berler, a Trump candidate to become a special envoy on Trump’s hostage issue, took part in a direct meeting with Hamas.
Hamas officials cited by AFP news agency confirmed negotiations with Israeli US prisoners of war in Gaza.
The United States previously publicly refused direct contact with Palestinian groups since banning them as a “terrorist” organization in 1997.
Israel said it had been consulted by the US about the in-person meeting.
Israeli officials say about 24 live prisoners, including American citizen Edan Alexander, and at least 35 bodies, are still believed to be still being held in Gaza.
Reported from Jordan, Hamdasarv of Al Jazeera said that both sides discussed prisoners of war held in Gaza.
“We understand that this is to ensure the acquisition of the remains of Israeli-American prisoners still being held in Gaza and the body of one Israeli person who is held captive by US citizens who are believed to be alive.
“Americans say their envoys have the power to negotiate with anyone. And it’s not just prisoners of war who hold American citizenship, but it’s also to end the war,” she said.
A fragile ceasefire
Confirmation of consultations comes days after the first phase of the Israeli Hamas ceasefire expires, with Israel pushing for an extension, and Hamas advocating for progress into the second phase of the deal agreed in January.
In the first phase, Hamas released 33 hostages in exchange for Hamas to release more than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Israel said the proposal to extend the first phase of the armistice was drafted by US envoy in the Middle East, Steve Witkov.
The new plan requires Hamas to release half of the remaining prisoners in exchange for a promise to negotiate a ceasefire extension and a permanent ceasefire. Israel has not mentioned the release of more Palestinian prisoners, an important element of the first stage.
Blocked assistance
After the first phase expired, Israel on Sunday stopped delivering humanitarian aid, including fuel, aid and medicine, to Gaza. The government is aiming to pressure Hamas to accept new conditions.
France, the UK and Germany on Wednesday warned Israel not to use aid as a “political tool” and called for it to ensure “unhindered” delivery of humanitarian supplies to war-torn Palestinian enclaves.
“We are calling on the Israeli government to comply with our international obligation to ensure full, prompt, safe and unhindered aid in humanitarian assistance to Gaza’s population,” the country said in a joint statement.
“If goods and supplies that enter Gaza, such as those announced by the Israeli government, are suspended, there is a risk of violating international humanitarian law,” they said. “Humanitarian aid should not be conditioned on a ceasefire or used as a political tool.”
Three European countries described Gaza’s humanitarian situation as “devastating.”
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