Leavitt added that the Israel has been consulted about the direct engagement with Hamas officials, but noted that there are “American lives at stake.” Israeli officials say about 24 living hostages — including Edan Alexander,

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that U.S. officials have had “ongoing talks and discussions” with Hamas officials. Confirmation of the talks in the Qatari capital of Doha come as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in the balance.

Confirmation of the talks in the Qatari capital of Doha come as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in the balance.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued what he called a "last warning" to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza. Trump, in a statement on his Truth Social platform soon after meeting a group of recently released hostages,

The White House said Wednesday that U.S. officials have engaged in “ongoing talks and discussions” with Hamas officials, stepping away from a long-held U.S. policy of not directly engaging in the militant group.

Confirmation of the talks in the Qatari capital of Doha come as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in the balance. It's the first known direct engagement between the U.S. and Hamas since the State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997.

Israel will send a delegation to Doha on Monday in an attempt to advance the Gaza ceasefire talks following an invitation from mediators.

US officials have had “ongoing talks and discussions” with Hamas officials, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Confirmation of the talks in the Qatari capital Doha come as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in the balance.

The U.S. has a longstanding policy against negotiating directly with a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a designation given to Hamas by the U.S. government in 1997.

Hamas says there are positive signs regarding negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza

The US on Wednesday confirmed unprecedented direct talks with Hamas on the release of hostages, as Israel threatened to renew its military campaign in Gaza despite a fragile ceasefire.