White House Holding Direct Talks With Hamas on Hostage Release

WASHINGTON—Trump administration officials have been holding face-to-face talks with Hamas officials in Qatar in an effort that focused on securing the release of remaining American hostages held by the militant group, U.S. and Arab officials said Wednesday.

The talks are a “good faith effort to do what’s right for the American people,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing. “There are American lives at stake,” she added.