Overview
- An Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel the U.S. envoy was set to meet senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya in Istanbul to discuss sustaining the Gaza ceasefire.
- Yisrael Hayom, citing American sources, reported the meeting was called off, with one explanation linking the decision to Hamas lobbying against the U.S. peace plan ahead of a UN Security Council vote.
- Palestinian sources told Al Mayadeen the cancellation followed Israeli pressure, a claim that has not been independently verified.
- The planned talks were portrayed as part of Washington’s push to keep direct communication channels with Hamas instead of relying only on mediators in Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
- Witkoff previously met al-Hayya in Egypt on October 9 alongside Jared Kushner and later asserted Hamas pledged to disarm, a claim Hamas publicly denies.