WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. officials have considered negotiating a unilateral deal with Palestinian Hamas militants to release five American hostages held in Gaza if ceasefire talks involving Israel fail, NBC News reported on Monday. Officials are hoping to recover the bodies of three other Americans who were killed that day, NBC reported. Asked about the report, Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer told reporters that all countries should do whatever they can to get hostages out. "We have called on all countries, all countries to put as much pressure on Hamas as they possibly can to release the hostages," he said. The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people and took some 250 others hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Source: The Guardian June 12, 2024 02:30 UTC