White House confirms direct US-Hamas negotiations

The White House confirmed that US officials were engaged in “ongoing talks and discussions” with Hamas. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a briefing that Israel has been consulted about direct US engagement with Hamas officials, but she declined to give further details. “Dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what’s in the best interest of the American people is something that the President has proven is what he believes is a good-faith effort to do what’s right for the American people,” she said.