White House envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to the Middle East on Wednesday to discuss with Israel, Qatar and Egypt the possibility of extending the first phase of the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.

Trump’s top hostage negotiator has met with Hamas officials in Qatar, the White House confirmed Wednesday, a rare instance of direct contact by US officials with a group designated a terrorist organization.

The discussions mark the first time the U.S. has held face-to-face talks with the militant group since Gaza war began.

The administration of U S President Donald Trump has reportedly been engaged in secret direct talks with the Hamas terror organization over the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza and the

Asked about the talks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that "the special envoy who's engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone".

US president Donald Trump has issued what he called a “last warning” to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza. He issued the sharply worded message after the White House confirmed he had recently dispatched an envoy for unprecedented direct talks with the militant group.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not informed of the talks before they took place and was caught off guard, said one Israeli source with knowledge of the matter.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed ongoing US discussions with Hamas representatives in Doha, Qatar, amid fragile ceasefire negotiations. While declining to reveal specifics, she emphasized that engaging in dialogue serves American interests.

The White House confirmed it held unprecedented direct talks with Hamas in an effort to secure the release of the last remaining American hostages trapped in Gaza. For the first time since 1997, US officials have engaged directly with the militant group — a moment that could become a diplomatic breakthrough as Hamas and Israel clash over the next phase of the ceasefire.

The Trump administration's secret negotiations with Hamas prior to public threats mark a significant departure from longstanding US policy against engaging terrorists. Discover the implications of these discussions on US hostages and the Gaza conflict.

According to reports, the discussions focused on the release of Edan Alexander along with the bodies of four others.

ALBAWABA- The United States has confirmed that it is directly engaging in talks with Hamas in Qatar regarding the hostages held in Gaza, marking a shift