JERUSALEM, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Monday welcomed the reported discussions in the White House to negotiate a unilateral deal with Hamas to free five U.S. nationals held hostage in Gaza.

Israel "welcomes any attempt to release our hostages," the prime minister's office said in a statement.

U.S. President Joe Biden is considering a unilateral deal with Hamas if the Qatari and Egyptian-brokered talks between Israel and Hamas fail, according to a report by NBC News. Such negotiations would not include Israel and would be facilitated through Qatari mediators, said the report.

Speaking to reporters in Cairo before departing for Jerusalem, U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken was asked about the report but chose not to confirm or deny its validity.

He emphasized that the best way to free all the hostages is through a ceasefire proposal currently on the table. Enditem

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