Israel Hayom: Meeting Between Witkoff and Al-Hayya Canceled Due to "Pressures"

The "Israel Hayom" newspaper reported on Wednesday that the scheduled meeting between US Envoy Steve Witkoff and a senior Hamas official has been canceled due to pressures and criticism.

Background and Israeli Pressure

• Intended Meeting: Witkoff was supposed to meet with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya on Wednesday in Istanbul.

• Israeli Objection: According to the Israeli website "Walla," Israeli sources considered that the meeting constituted an "acknowledgment of Hamas's status" and would make it more difficult for Israel to move to the second phase of negotiations with the movement.

• Meeting Goal: Media outlets had reported that the goal of the meeting was to discuss the "day after" in the Gaza Strip and close the file of Hamas fighters stranded in Rafah, as part of the Trump administration's efforts to push for Phase II of the ceasefire agreement.

• Previous Encounter: This is not the first meeting of its kind; Witkoff and Al-Hayya previously met in October in Sharm el-Sheikh, moments before the ceasefire agreement was signed. Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, also attended that meeting.

Hamas and Israel reached a ceasefire and hostage/prisoner exchange agreement on October 10, which has held up so far despite some escalations.