The direct engagement comes as continuation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains uncertain. Trump has signaled that he has no intentions of pushing Netanyahu away from a return to combat if Hamas doesn’t agree to terms of a new ceasefire proposal, which the Israelis have billed as being drafted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.

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.

It's the first known direct engagement between the US and Hamas since the State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997