The Trump administration has been conducting secret talks with Hamas on the possibility of releasing U.S. hostages being held in Gaza, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing two unnamed sources with direct knowledge of the talks.

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​The meetings were held in secrecy between US presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler and Hamas officials. Israel was not informed of what was discussed at these direct meetings as the Axios report said that Israel learnt “about aspects of the talks through other channels”. However, the Trump administration consulted with Israel about the possibility of engaging with Hamas, the report added.