White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly has confirmed to the Times of Israel that Adam Boehler will continue to deal with hostage affairs, but only with the title of a special government employee — which will not require Senate confirmation — Al Jazeera reports.

Boehler had withdrawn his nomination as US President Trump’s special envoy for hostage affairs over backlash he faced after holding direct talks with Hamas, Al Jazeera noted.

Boehler’s direct talks with Hamas, though fully coordinated with Trump’s Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff, were controversial as Israel had not been fully informed they were taking place, Al Jazeera quoted a Times of Israel report as saying.