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The US is negotiating directly with Hamas about hostages and the Gaza ceasefire, upending its tradition of not talking to groups it considers terrorist organizations, according an Israeli official and the White House.

An Israel official told CNN that Israel is aware of direct contacts between the United States and Hamas. And White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed talks were taking place.

The contact was first reported by Axios, which said the talks happened in recent weeks in the Qatari capital of Doha.

Leavitt was asked why the US was negotiating “directly and for the first time ever with Hamas.”

“When it comes to the negotiations that you’re referring to, first of all, the special envoy who’s engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone,” she said, referring to the US hostage envoy, Adam Boehler.

When asked about the scope of the talks, Leavitt said: “These are ongoing talks and discussions. I’m not going to detail them here.”

What the president said: President Donald Trump issued a “last warning” today to Hamas to release all hostages held in Gaza.

“’Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye — You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Hamas responds: Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told CNN that Trump’s social media post would “complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement” and embolden Israel’s government to avoid implementing the deal.

CNN’s Kit Maher, Ibrahim Dahman and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this post.