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.

A potential US proposal, discussed with Hamas, includes the release of captives in exchange for a Gaza ceasefire extension.

After years of promising never to abandon its close ally, Washington did just that with South Vietnam in Paris and the government of Afghanistan in Doha. In both wars, the U.S. had spent years of blood and treasure propping up its ally.

The Trump administration has been conducting secret talks with the militant Palestinian group Hamas on the possibility of releasing U.S. hostages being held in Gaza, two sources briefed on the conversations told Reuters.

A day after President Donald Trump met with eight hostages released from Gaza, U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) met privately in his office with North Carolina native Keith Siegel

The Trump administration has been conducting secret talks with Hamas to try to secure the release of U.S. hostages held in Gaza, sources told Reuters.

As President Donald Trump's administration continues its sweeping overhaul of the federal government, the Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing lay off as many as 80,000 workers, according to an internal memo obtained by ABC News.