The Biden administration is considering negotiating directly with Hamas, through Qatari intermediaries, to secure the release of five Americans held hostage in Gaza if ongoing cease-fire talks with Israel fail.

This potential negotiation would exclude Israel.

The administration believes Hamas abducted these Americans during the October 7 attack on Israel and hopes to recover the remains of three additional U.S. citizens killed in the attack, NBC News has reported.

The specifics of what the U.S. might offer in exchange for the hostages are unclear, but officials suggest Hamas might agree to a deal to strain U.S.-Israel relations and increase political pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Written by B.C. Begley