The U.S. has a longstanding policy against negotiating directly with a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a designation given to Hamas by the U.S. government in 1997.

President Trump has issued what he's calling a last warning for Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza, warning in a social media post that if the group doesn't comply, no Hamas member would be safe.

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