The talks arrive while Israel continues to block humanitarian aid supplies in Gaza after the expiration of the first phase of the ceasefire.
The United States is engaged in direct talks with Hamas, negotiations on a ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian Armed group and Israel is suspended by a thread.
“These are talks and ongoing discussions, I will not detail them here, there are American lives at stake,” said the White House, Karoline Leavitt’s press secretary, confirming an Axios Media Priver report on Wednesday.
“Look, dialogue and talk to people around the world to do what is in the best interest of the American people is something that the president has proven, that is what he believes to be (a) good faith, the effort to do what is good for the American people,” said Leavitt.
Adam Boehler, Trump’s candidate to be a special envoy for hostage affairs, participated in direct talks with Hamas.
An official of the Hamas quoted by the AFP news agency confirmed negotiations on the Israeli captives which were held in Gaza.
The United States had previously refused direct contact with the Palestinian group since their ban as a “terrorist” organization in 1997.
Israel said he was consulted by the United States in direct talks.
Israeli officials say about 24 living captives – including Edan Alexander, an American citizen – as well as bodies of at least 35 others are still detained in Gaza.
Hamdah Salhut of Tel Aviv Tribune, reporting from Jordan, said that the two parties had discussed the captives held in Gaza.
“We understand that it is to ensure the recovery of the bodies of the Israeli-American captives who are always detained in Gaza and an Israeli captive with American citizenship that is alive.
“The Americans say that their envoys have the power to negotiate with anyone, and it is not only the captives that hold American citizenship, it is also for the end of the war,” she said.
Fragile truce
Confirmation of talks occurs a few days after the expiration of the first phase of the ceasefire of Israel-Hamas, Israel putting pressure for an extension while Hamas insists on the second phase of the agreement agreed in January.
The first phase saw Hamas release 33 hostages in exchange for Israel releasing more than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and prisoners.
Israel said the proposal to extend the first phase of the truce had been written by the American envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
The new plan would oblige Hamas to release half of its remaining captives in exchange for a cease-fire extension and a promise to negotiate a sustainable truce. Israel has made no mention to publish more Palestinian prisoners – a key element of the first phase.
Blocked help
After the expiration of the first phase, Israel suspended humanitarian aid deliveries on Sunday, including fuel, aid and medicine, in Gaza, while the government aims to put Hamas pressure to accept new terms – a decision that the Palestinian group has criticized as a violation of the initial agreement.
France, the United Kingdom and Germany warned Israel on Wednesday from the use of aid as a “political tool”, the appeal to ensure the “unhindered” delivery of humanitarian supplies to the Palestinian enclave ravaged by the war.
“We are calling on the government of Israel to comply with its international obligations to guarantee the complete, fast, safe and underside of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza population,” countries said in a joint statement.
“A judgment on goods and supplies entering Gaza such as that announced by the government of Israel is likely to violate international humanitarian law,” they said. “Humanitarian aid should never be subject to a ceasefire or used as a political tool.”
The three European nations described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic”.