US says talks with Hamas were ‘conveyance’ group ‘cannot exist in Gaza’

​​​​​​WASHINGTON

The US State Department on Thursday defended its engagement with Hamas, emphasizing that talks did not constitute “negotiations” and were aimed at reaffirming the US' stance that the Palestinian resistance group “cannot exist in Gaza.”

“If you have a conversation with someone, it's certainly not a negotiation. It's not irreconcilable. It is the conveyance of the American position in a different way,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters during her first briefing.

“Nothing was different. Nothing was conveyed differently. There was no change of position. It was the conveyance of the existing American position about Hamas and how it cannot exist in Gaza,” she said. “Whether it is through a tweet or a diplomatic cable, or on television, or through envoys or in a meeting, that message can be conveyed.”

Her remarks came one day after the White House confirmed that the Trump administration is engaged in direct dialogue with Hamas, adding that the talks align with US interests.

Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Israel was consulted "on this matter" and the talks are "ongoing."

Leavitt declined to specify the scope of the discussions, including whether they are solely about the release of additional hostages held by Hamas, or if they address Trump's widely-panned proposal to take ownership of the besieged Gaza Strip.

A well-informed Palestinian source told Anadolu that the talks explored positions on a deal for the release of Israeli prisoners who hold American citizenship.

The source said the talks took place weeks ago, noting that it was not the first time the meetings occurred.

On a proposal that was adopted at an Arab leaders’ summit on rebuilding Gaza, Bruce said: “It does not fulfill the requirements, the nature of what President Trump was asking for.”

She added that the US welcomed efforts to address the issue, adding: “This clearly has to continue.”