U.S. Envoy Expected to Meet Senior Hamas Official

Signals of Direct Dialogue from the Trump Administration

The White House is reportedly arranging a face‑to‑face meeting between Steve Witkoff, the senior U.S. envoy for Middle‑East affairs, and Khalil al‑Hayya, a top official of Hamas. The encounter would mark a notable shift toward maintaining an open channel of communication with the Palestinian militant group.

According to sources familiar with the plan, the discussion is intended to explore possible avenues for de‑escalation and to assess Hamas’ willingness to engage in future peace negotiations. While the administration has traditionally avoided direct talks with Hamas, officials argue that a discreet dialogue could help prevent further violence and create conditions for a broader diplomatic effort.

Critics, however, warn that any overt engagement with Hamas may legitimize the organization and undermine the United States’ longstanding policy of isolating groups designated as terrorist entities. The upcoming meeting is expected to be tightly controlled, with both parties emphasizing that the talks are exploratory and do not imply any formal recognition.

Observers note that this potential outreach reflects the broader strategy of the Trump administration to pursue unconventional diplomatic channels in the region, aiming to break the long‑standing stalemate that has hampered peace initiatives for years.