White House Confirms Talks With Hamas

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The White House confirmed on Wednesday that the Trump administration is in direct dialogue with the Palestinian group, Hamas, maintaining that discussions are in the United States (US) interest, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Israel was consulted "on this matter" and the talks are "ongoing."

Leavitt declined to specify the scope of the discussions, including whether they are solely about the release of additional hostages held by Hamas, or if they address Trump's widely-panned proposal to take ownership of the besieged Gaza Strip.

"Dialogue and talking to people around the world to do the best interests of the American people is something that the president has proven, is what he believes is good faith effort to do what's right for the American people," she told reporters at the White House.

The Axios news website earlier on Wednesday disclosed the existence of the secret negotiations, which have been taking place in the Qatari capital in recent weeks.

Axios identified US presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler as leading the US delegation, a fact acknowledged by Leavitt.

A temporary ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, which began Jan 19, briefly halted the violence in Gaza but has since collapsed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to negotiate the second phase of the three-phase deal, instead seeking to extend the first phase. Hamas, however, insists on negotiations on the second phase, including a full Israeli withdrawal and a complete end to the war.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU