FIRST ON FOX Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., asked the Justice Department Thursday to investigate aChinese-owned self-driving trucking company, one of the largest in the U.S., citing allegations that it had shared proprietary data and other sensitive technology with state-linked entities in Beijing.The letter, sent to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and previewed exclusively to Fox News Digital, asks the Justice Department to open a formal investigation into the autonomous truck company TuSimple Holdings, a Chinese-owned company and one of the largest self-driving truck companies in the U.S.In it, Hawley cites recent reporting from the Wall Street Journal that alleges that TuSimple "systematically shared proprietary data, source code, and autonomous driving technologies" with Chinese state-linked entities what he described as "blatant disregard" of the 2022 national security agreement with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS."These reports also revealed communications from TuSimple personnel inside China requesting the shipment of sensitive Nvidia AI chips and detailed records showing deep and longstanding ties with Chinese military-affiliated manufacturers," Hawley said.TRUMP NOMINATES FORMER DEFENSE ATTORNEY EMIL BOVE FOR FEDERAL APPEALS COURT VACANCYHe noted that to date, TuSimple "has not faced serious consequences" for sharing American intellectual property with China, despite having continued to share data with China after signing a national security agreement with the U.S. government in 2022, which was enforced by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S."If the reports about TuSimple are accurate, they represent not just a violation of export law, but a breach of national trust and a direct threat to American technological leadership," Hawley said.TRUMP ADMIN WORKING TO FLY BACK GUATEMALAN MIGRANT ERRONEOUSLY DEPORTED FROM US"The American people deserve to know how and why a supposedly U.S.-based company was allowed to serve as a conduit for the transfer of sensitive innovations to the Chinese Communist Party," he added.The letter asks Bondi and the Justice Department to take certain steps to investigate the company's actions, as alleged by the recent reports including investigating whether TuSimple provided protected information to any Chinese-based entities, and what activities were covered by the company's national security agreement with CFIUS, struck more than two years ago.Hawley also asked Bondi what actions, if any, DOJ has taken to date to ensure that Bot Autoa new Texas-based self-driving vehicle company staffed by many former TuSimple employees, "is not engaging in similar behavior."According to the Wall Street Journal report, TuSimple's actions helped shape new Commerce Department regulations, which blocked the sale of internet-linked cars and different components with links to China. According to the report, a CFIUS investigation determined TuSimple's tech sharing did not violate the official national security agreement but the company was fined for other infractions, and ultimately paid out a $6 million settlement.The letter comes as Hawley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, has emerged as one of the Senate's more vocal critics of the Chinese Communist Party, especially as it relates to the conduct of certain U.S. companies, and the sharing of certain intellectual property.

Patrick Mahomes addressed the possibility of him playing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics for Team USA's flag football team.The Kansas City Chiefs superstar has been speculated to be a potential option to lead the US in the first ever Olympic flag football competition.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMHowever, Mahomes appeared uninterested in the role when asked about it by reporters on Thursday."I'll probably leave that to the younger guys. I'll be a little older by the time that comes around," Mahomes said.In the summer of 2028, when The Games will take place, Mahomes will be 32 years old and just weeks away from turning 33 that September.Mahomes previously suggested he would "want to" play in the Olympics, but questioned whether he has the skills to do so, and also expressed concerns about his age, back in August."Theres the want to, I just dont know if my skill set is what is required for flag football," Mahomes said at the time via Nice Kicks."First, Im going to be in my 30s at that point and then its a lot of scrambling at the QB position. Its not just sitting there throwing. And then Im sure more of the athletic quarterbacks might get out there. I could be a coach. You get a gold medal for being a coach? Maybe I could be a consultant for the team."SHEDEUR SANDERS SHARES THEORY ABOUT '99% OF HATRED' HE RECEIVESNFL owners unanimously approved players participation in flag football during their meeting earlier this month.Last month, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said interest in competing in the Summer Olympics has been a hot topic in the league, adding a resolution on the issue may be forthcoming."Well, Ive heard directly from a lot of players who want to participate and represent their country, whether its the United States or a country that they came from," Goodell said in April."I think that's something that we'll continue to discuss with, not just the union, but also the clubs. I think both of those are things that we'll probably resolve sometime in the next 60 days."Other players who have expressed interest in competing in the Olympics include Tyreek Hill, Aaron Jones, and Kyle Juszczyk. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who won the Super Bowl in February, was also recently tabbed the flag football ambassador for the Games.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The low hum of summer typically includes lawnmowers and sizzling burgers and this year, it may be the sound of cicadas.This years brood of insects may be the second-biggest ever.Two types of cicadas commonly exist in the Eastern United States: annual cicadas, which emerge every year, and periodical cicadas, which emerge every 13 or 17 years, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The insects reside primarily in trees and shrubs.INVASIVE INSECT POSES HEALTH THREAT IN 19 STATES, EXPERT WARNSBroods are a way of categorizing cicadas based on this pattern, and less of a biological trait.Because broods emerge in different areas, places that had cicadas last year may not have them this year, according to Dr. John R. Cooley, associate professor-in-residence of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Connecticut.Brood XIV is referred to as a "keystone" brood, Cooley told Fox News Digital.It is the second-largest behind Brood XIX, the "Great Southern Brood," which last emerged in 2024 in 15 states from Oklahoma to Maryland.FLESH-EATING NEW WORLD SCREWWORM COULD POSE HEALTH RISKS TO CATTLE, HUMANSWhile there is another "Great Eastern Brood" Brood X, which emerged in 2021 Brood XIV is larger, and could thus be considered the "Great(er) Eastern Brood."Brood XIV will emerge in states ranging from Georgia all the way up to New York, according to the University of Connecticut."Once an emergence gets going, it lasts about a month, depending on the weather," Cooley said."It seems like the weather this year has been quite strange the emergence is well underway in North Carolina, but further north, because of the cold weather, it hasnt even really started yet in Pennsylvania," he added.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERAdult cicadas climb into trees and shrubs to mate, and then females deposit their eggs onto small twigs.The babies, called nymphs, hatch from these eggs after six weeks and fall to the ground. They then burrow into the soil and begin feeding on the roots of trees and shrubs to restart the cicada lifecycle, according to the EPA.Cicadas will not eat leaves, flowers, fruits or garden produce, so it is not necessary to take special precautions to cover or apply additional insecticides in your garden, the above source stated.For more Lifestyle articles, visitfoxnews.com/lifestyle."People should keep in mind that what they are seeing is unique there is no other place in the world where such a thing happens, and they are found only in the U.S.," Cooley pointed out.The EPA also notes that cicadas don't bite or sting, and they are not harmful to humans, pets, household gardens or crops.

The Trump administration has a new goal of 3,000 arrests of illegal immigrants daily, which was publicly confirmed by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller."Under President Trumps leadership, we are looking to set a goal of a minimum of 3,000 arrests for ICE every day," Miller told "Hannity" on Wednesday night, saying the number is going to keep getting bumped higher over time.His response comes after an Axios report that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Miller were said to be backing the 3,000 daily figure in a meeting last week at ICE headquarters.ICE TOUTS RECORD-BREAKING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT DURING TRUMP'S FIRST 100 DAYSOn "Americas Newsroom" on Thursday morning, border czar Tom Homan reaffirmed his statement, saying that officials are "asking for an increase" in arrests."Weve gotta increase these arrests and removals," Homan said."The numbers are good, but Im not satisfied. I havent been satisfied all year long," noting that theres a major "public safety" risk with hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants still in the country from the Biden administration and earlier. For those that do not already have rap sheets, DHS is encouraging them to self-deport with a covered commercial flight and an $1,000 stipend for exiting.TRUMP NABS 30K ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, 1,100 GANG MEMBERS IN 100 DAYS: 'CRIME WILL GO DOWN,' EX-FBI AGENT SAYSDuring Trumps first 100 days, ICE arrested 66,463 illegal immigrants, and more than 65,000 illegal immigrants were deported. Of that figure, more than 17,000 had criminal convictions or charges for crimes such as driving under the influence, assault, or "weapon offenses," according to ICE.CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGEThe agency deported 17,200 people in April, which is roughly 4,000 higher than the year prior, when former President Joe Biden was in office, according to NBC News."Under Secretary Noem, we are delivering on President Trump and the American peoples mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens and make America safe," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated.ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARRESTS SKYROCKET UNDER TRUMP ICE COMPARED TO BIDEN LEVELS LAST YEAR: 'WORST OF THE WORST'The goal increases as the administration pushes Congress to pass the reconciliation bill, which has just been passed by the House. The bill is expected to ramp up funding to get 10,000 more ICE agents and tens of thousands more beds for detention facilities."This bill will add infrastructure and technology to make our gains on the borders permanent. It puts more boots on the ground to target cartel activity, alien smuggling, child trafficking and drug smuggling. It will provide the needed funds and manpower to increase the great work of ICE on our deportation operations nationwide," Homan said of the bill after its House passage, according to the White House.

NPR CEO Katherine Maher assured PBS on Wednesday that her outlet is "non-partisan" following President Donald Trumps latest executive order seeking to defund the station.In an interview on "PBS NewsHour," the NPR boss trashed Trumps executive order to "cease Federal funding for NPR," calling it "viewpoint discrimination" and saying that Trump is just taking it out on NPR because it goes against his views."And so, it is a textbook example of viewpoint discrimination from a First Amendment standpoint," she said, adding, "Essentially, by blocking funding to NPR and PBS, it is a form of retaliation against our organizations for airing editorial programming that the president might disagree with."BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO CHIEF FEARS SERVICE CUTS IF TRUMP FUNDING BAN SUCCEEDSTrump signed the order earlier this month which mandated that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies stop funding NPR and other public media outlets like PBS.The text of the order read, "NPR and PBS have fueled partisanship and left-wing propaganda with taxpayer dollars, which is highly inappropriate and an improper use of taxpayers money, as President Trump has stated."Mahers outlet, joined by three public Colorado stations Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio and KSUT filed a lawsuit against the order in federal court on Tuesday. In a statement, the NPR CEO said, "The Executive Order is a clear violation of the Constitution and the First Amendment's protections for freedom of speech and association, and freedom of the press."5 THINGS VETERAN NPR EDITOR EXPOSED IN STUNNING CRITICISM OF OWN EMPLOYERS LIBERAL BIASDuring the PBS interview on Wednesday, Maher suggested that Trumps executive order violated "safeguards" established by the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 that keep "public media independent from government influence."PBS has not joined NPRs suit but said it is weighing legal options, among others."PBS is considering every option, including taking legal action, to allow our organization to continue to provide essential programming and services to member stations and all Americans," PBS spokesman Jeremy Gaines said earlier this week.PBS NewsHour anchor Geoff Bennett asked Maher about accusations that NPR promotes a liberal bias, bringing up Republicans claims, as well as those of former NPR editor Uri Berliner.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREBerliner, who quit NPR in 2024, blew the whistle on the outlet in an essay for The Free Press that same year, slamming NPR for its "absence of viewpoint diversity."Maher responded to the critiques, declaring, "Well, first of all, I respond by saying were a non-partisan news organization. We seek to be able to provide a range of different viewpoints in terms of who we bring on air, the stories that we tell.""My view is that is a mischaracterization of our work. We do not seek to favor any political party at all. We seek to ensure that Americans have a wide range of perspectives available to them," she added.In response to Maher's comments, a White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital:"The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is creating media to support a particular political party on the taxpayers dime. Therefore, the President is exercising his lawful authority to limit funding to NPR and PBS. The President was elected with a mandate to ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and he will continue to use his lawful authority to achieve that objective."

President Donald Trump and Paramount Global are still at an impasse as they attempt to resolve his $20 billion lawsuit against the company through mediation.Fox News Digital confirmed that Trump rejected a $15 million offer to settle his lawsuit, according to a source familiar with the matter. The president's legal team is also demanding at least $25 million and an apology from CBS News. Trump's attorneys even floated another lawsuit against the company.Trump's settlement rejection was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.Trump's attorney did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Paramount declined to comment.60 MINUTES STAFF STAND BY KAMALA HARRIS INTERVIEW AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP'S MAJOR PARAMOUNT LAWSUITLast October, Trump sued CBS News and Paramount for $10 billion over allegations of election interference involving the "60 Minutes" interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris that aired weeks before the presidential election (the amount has since jumped to $20 billion).The lawsuit alleges CBS News deceitfully edited an exchange Harris had with "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker, who asked her why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn't "listening" to the Biden administration. Harris was widely mockedfor the "word salad" answer that aired in a preview clip of the interview on "Face the Nation."However, when the same question aired during a primetime special on the network, Harris had a different, more concise response. Critics at the time accused CBS News of deceitfully editingHarris' "word salad" answerto shield the Democratic nominee from further backlash leading up to Election Day.The raw transcript and footage released earlier this year by the FCC showed that both sets of Harris' comments came from the same response, but CBS News had aired only the first half of her response in the "Face the Nation" preview clip and aired the second half during the primetime special.CBS News has denied any wrongdoing and stands by the broadcast and its reporting.60 MINUTES PRODUCERS RAIL AGAINST TRUMP'S 'BULLS---' LAWSUIT, DREAD PROSPECTS OF PARAMOUNT MAKING SETTLEMENTShari Redstone, Paramount's controlling shareholder who recused herself from settlement discussions in February, made clear that she wanted to settle Trump's lawsuit in hopes of clearing the pathway for Paramount's multibillion-dollar planned merger with Skydance Media, which seeks approval from the Trump administration's FCC.However, there has been newsroom drama in recent months involving Redstone's efforts to "keep tabs" on the network's reporting of Trump, at least until the merger closes. That led to the abrupt resignation of "60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens, who claimed he could no longer maintain editorial independence. Also fueling settlement rumors was last week's ousting of CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon, who cited disagreement with the company behind her departure. CBS NEWS STAFFERS RATTLED BY CEO'S ABRUPT EXIT AS TRUMP LAWSUIT LOOMS OVER NETWORKCBS News journalists remain defiant, including "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley, who went viral with his commencement address at Wake Forest University repeatedly slamming Trump as well as his lawsuit."Why attack universities? Why attack journalism? Because ignorance works for power," Pelley told Wake Forest graduates. "First, make the truth seekers live in fear, sue the journalists and their companies for nothing. Then, send masked agents to abduct a college student who wrote an editorial in her college paper defending Palestinian rights and send her to a prison in Louisiana charged with nothing. Then move to destroy the law firms that stand up for the rights of others."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"With that done, power can rewrite history with grotesque false narratives. They can make criminals heroes and heroes criminals. Power can change the definition of the words we use to describe reality. Diversity is now described as illegal. Equity is to be shunned. Inclusion is a dirty word. This is an old playbook, my friends. There's nothing new in this," he continued.

For the second week in a row, the Department of Homeland Security carried out a dramatic, early-morning raid in Los Angeles targeting transnational organized crime rings. This weeks bust netted fourteen arrests from an Armenian fraud ring that investigators say stole $30 million in COVID relief and Small Business loans meant to help taxpaying Americans."If you are taking money from the government that doesn't belong to you, your door could be the next one that we're hitting," said U.S. Attorney for Californias Central District, Bill Essayli.EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: DHS NABS NUMEROUS SUSPECTS IN DRAMATIC STING OF RIVAL LA GANGSFox News was exclusively embedded with DHS in the multi-agency sting that included the IRS and the Small Business Administration.Thirteen of the suspects are Armenian-born but have become naturalized. At least one of the suspects faces deportation."This is the police. We have a warrant. Come out with your hands up!" one officers voice echoed on a loudspeaker attached to an armored vehicle with agents inside. The special unit inside the armored vehicle first cut the chain on a gated driveway and then demanded one of the targeted suspects come out of his L.A.-area home in a sunrise bust.The wanted suspect is Armenian born and uses the name William McGrayan. He surrendered to police in the bust, slowly walking out of his front door towards the armored vehicle with his hands over his head. The criminal complaint says that an informant described McGrayan as "unhinged" claiming he talked about his ties to gangs in Armenia and threatened one person with a gun and baseball bat.7 MEMBERS OF SOUTH AMERICAN THEFT GROUP ARRESTED FOR PHOENIX BURGLARIESInvestigators say McGrayan is the brains of the crime ring that applied to steal $47 million in federal funds and got away with around $30 million. Court documents read that the suspects allegedly used phony documents including fake bank and tax papers to create multiple shell companies that applied for the federal funds."That's $47 million in taxpayer funds that was meant to go to good use, and these transnational criminal organizations are exploiting the American people's good will and using it for their personal gain," said John Pasciucco, Acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI Los Angeles.After the fourteen suspects were arrested, they were brought to an unmarked, specially designated processing center to be booked. Law enforcement seized approximately $20,000 in cash, two money-counting machines, paper cash bands or currency straps in denominations of $2,000 and $10,000, multiple cell phones, multiple laptops, two loaded semi-automatic 9mm handguns, and boxes of 9mm ammunition.The suspects are charged with a range of crimes from conspiracy, wire and bank fraud to money laundering.Authorities say some of the money was spent on houses and luxury goods, other amounts were sent to Armenia, making it harder for the U.S. to trace.

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content.Here's what's happening-Elon Musk criticism of Trump tax bill frustrates some Republicans: 'No place in Congress'-Rubio spearheads massive State Department reorganization set to eliminate, merge more than 300 offices-Federal judge says attempted deportation of anti-Israel ringleader Mahmoud Khalil may be unconstitutionalTesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk bid farewell to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a Wednesday night X post, ending his tenure as the face of the agency as it shifts to a new phase in President Donald Trump's second term."As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending," Musk said on X. "The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government."Musk has been the public face of DOGE since Trump signed an executive order establishing the office on Jan. 20. DOGE has since ripped through federal government agencies in a quest to identify and end government overspending, corruption and fraudREAD MOREBLUE AMBITIONS: 21 Democrats who may try to succeed Trump in the 2028 presidential electionDEEP CUTS: Trump's drastic NSC cuts spark debate: Does fighting the 'Deep State' put national security at risk?JUDICIAL PUSHBACK: Federal judge orders Trump admin to resume migrant 'parole' applicationsCOURT WIN: Federal judge sides against copyright leader who claimed Trump was wrong to fire her'MOMENT MEANS A LOT': Rapper thanks Trump for pardon on gun convictionSAVED BY THE PEN: Trump commutes sentence of major political donor in latest round of clemency'INFLECTION POINT': Hamas faces 'legitimacy crisis' as desperate Gazans flock to US-backed aid centers'PATH' FOR PEACE: Franklin Graham meets with Zelenskyy in Berlin, offers prayer amid escalating Russia-Ukraine warFIGHTING BACK: Former Navy Seal Jared Hudson mounts Senate bid to 'crush the woke agenda' as Tuberville seeks governorshipUPPER BRACKET BOOST: Here are the changes to the SALT tax deduction in the 'big, beautiful bill'DOCTOR DEMOCRAT: Lindsey Graham draws Democratic Senate challenger who previously lost congressional raceFUNDING FEUD: GOP rails against 'blatantly false' Dem claims about Medicaid reform in Trump's 'big, beautiful bill''POLITICAL SCANDAL': GOP push for new House committee to probe Biden decline 'cover-up' gains steamCLOCK'S TICKING: 85-year-old longtime House Democrat facing primary challenger who's making age the issueRED TAPE CUT: Supreme Court limits judges' authority to block infrastructure projects over environmental concernsSPLASH SHOWDOWN: Riley Gaines challenges ex-ESPN host to race after he says she was a 'worse swimmer' than she is 'MAGA stooge'RACE HEATING UP: Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger releases first TV ad, slams 'political nonsense'CRUSH THE WOKE AGENDA: Former Navy Seal Jared Hudson mounts Senate bid to 'crush the woke agenda' as Tuberville seeks governorshipFAITH-BASED LEARNING: Pro-life leader praises bill requiring Ten Commandments in Texas schools: A step in the right directionGet the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

An Iowa congresswoman touted her support for President Donald Trumps tax and spending bill in back-to-back town halls on Wednesday, even as members of the audience jeered and disrupted her speech."They were booing when I was saying, you know, We're preserving tax cuts, and I can't believe people would boo tax cuts for themselves," Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, told Fox News Digital on Thursday."I think there are a number of people who just show up to these town halls who want to disrupt. They didn't care what I had to say. They just want to boo and yell and be angry."And there were a significant number of such people at both her town halls in Elkader and Decorah on Wednesday.SCOOP: HOUSE GOP MEMO HIGHLIGHTS REPUBLICAN WINS IN TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL'At both events, Hinson touted her support for Trump and House Republicans budget reconciliation bill and promoted the Department of Government Efficiencys (DOGE) efforts.Both issues drew largely negative reactions from people there, save for some exceptions.At one point in the first town hall, a woman named Linda stood on behalf of another woman, Nicole, who was in a wheelchair and had "difficulty speaking." Nicole, who relied on federal health and food programs, was concerned about any cuts to those programs making her life more difficult, Linda said.The crowd then cheered as Hinson pledged that Republicans were only reforming those programs, "so that people like you can continue to have access to the treatments and medications you need."The goodwill was short-lived, however, when the next questioner accused Republicans of cutting university funding in favor of tax cuts for the wealthy despite Hinson pointing out the bill does not change income tax brackets.MIKE JOHNSON, DONALD TRUMP GET BIG, 'BEAUTIFUL WIN AS BUDGET PASSES HOUSE"Its an absolute crime," the man shouted.The boos grew louder when Hinson accused top universities of "letting men play in girls' sports." People in the crowd could be heard screaming "stop it" and "stop spinning."At her second town hall, the crowd jeered as Hinson emphasized her support for Trump."The president is, I believe, fighting for you and fighting for me. Im fighting alongside of him. I think God saved President Trumps life in Butler," Hinson said before briefly pausing as the boos swelled."I think He saved his life in Butler, Pennsylvania for a reason. I think he is helping us to save this country," she continued.Hinson was still unfazed by the protesters when she spoke with Fox News Digital the next day."I did exactly what I said I was going to do," Hinson said. "I feel good about what I was able to communicate and correct the record yesterday. And I will not only defend this agenda and answer any questions any day, any time of the week, but I think it is really important that I'm out there on offense, correcting the record."The congresswoman said the disruptions grew so loud that it prompted a Vietnam War veteran to address her after one of the events and tell her, "I couldnt hear over all that, and I think thats a shame because I wanted to hear what you had to say.""Thats really the disservice. Again, these people who their only intent is to disrupt, someone like that man who served our country, who wanted to come hear what I had to say, had trouble hearing me," Hinson said. "People there want to be able to have civil discourse and ask the questions and hear my answers."

The White House on Thursday confirmed that Israel agreed to a ceasefire proposal submitted by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump in a move to return the 58 hostages who have been held in Gaza for more than 600 days."Israel signed off on this proposal before it was sent to Hamas," White House press secretary Karoline Levitt told reporters. "I can also confirm that those discussions are continuing, and we hope that a ceasefire in Gaza will take place so we can return all of the hostages home."HAMAS FACES 'LEGITIMACY CRISIS' AS DESPERATE GAZANS FLOCK TO US-BACKED AID CENTERSLevitt would not comment further on the details of the proposal, and Hamas does not yet appear to have agreed to the proposal.State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters Thursday there is a sense of "important optimism" but confirmed the Hamas position is "unknown at this point."A statement released on Wednesday by the terrorist organization said, "The latest of these efforts was reaching an agreement with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on a general framework, which achieves a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, the flow of humanitarian aid, and the formation of a professional committee to manage the affairs of Gaza upon the announcement of the agreement."TRUMP CONFIRMS HE TOLD NETANYAHU TO BACK OFF IRAN STRIKES AMID NUCLEAR TALKSHamas also claimed the most recent proposal it had reviewed included the release of 10 Israeli hostages as well as "a number of bodies" in exchange for an unconfirmed number of Palestinian prisoners.It is unclear if these details were also included in the proposal agreed to by Israel.Following the release of Edan Alexander, the final American-Israeli hostage still alive in Hamas captivity this month, 58 hostages remain.An estimated 24 of the hostages are assessed to be alive, though Israeli reporting has suggested this number could be less.The bodies of four American Israelis taken on Oct. 7, 2023, continue to be held captive, including Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai and Judi Weinstein Haggai.Yonat Frilling contributed to this report.