US-Hamas Meeting Canceled Amid Israeli Pressure

A scheduled meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, set for Wednesday in Turkey, has been canceled due to pressure from Israel, as reported by the Lebanese channel Al-Mayadeen. This meeting would have marked Witkoff's second engagement with Hayya, following a critical discussion on October 9 that contributed to a ceasefire agreement in Egypt. During that meeting, Witkoff and Jared Kushner, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, assured Hamas leaders that the U.S. would hold Israel accountable to the terms of the ceasefire, contingent upon Hamas adhering to its commitments.

Times of Israel

Prior to Witkoff's recent meetings, there had been no known U.S. interactions with Hamas during Trump's first term. However, earlier this year, Witkoff was dispatched to secretly engage with Hamas officials to facilitate the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander. This earlier engagement led to significant backlash from Israeli officials, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's envoy Ron Dermer, who expressed discontent upon learning of the talks, which subsequently contributed to their collapse in March.

Times of Israel

Witkoff was expected to address U.S. demands for Hamas to disarm during the now-canceled meeting. Despite claims from Witkoff that Hamas leaders had previously committed to disarmament, the group has publicly rejected this notion, recently condemning a UN Security Council resolution aimed at establishing an International Stabilization Force in postwar Gaza. Additionally, Hamas continues to hold the bodies of three slain hostages: Dror Or, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak.

Times of Israel

Witkoff has also been negotiating for the safe passage of 100 to 200 Hamas fighters from a tunnel network in Rafah, located on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew from on October 10. The U.S. has been advocating for Israel to allow these fighters safe passage, either across the Yellow Line or to a third country, contingent upon their agreement to surrender their weapons.

Times of Israel

Netanyahu has consistently rejected proposals for the safe passage of Hamas fighters, and it remains uncertain whether these fighters are willing to disarm. Witkoff has positioned this standoff as a potential model for a broader decommissioning and amnesty initiative for Hamas's estimated 20,000 fighters, as outlined in Trump's 20-point plan for resolving the Gaza conflict. Although Netanyahu publicly supported this plan during its announcement in September, neither Israel nor Hamas has formally signed it. Instead, both parties agreed on a different document on October 9, focusing on the ceasefire, Israel's initial withdrawal from Gaza, a hostage-prisoner exchange, and humanitarian aid provisions.

Times of Israel

• “Witkoff has framed the standoff as a potential model for a larger decommissioning and amnesty program that the US is trying to advance for all of Hamas’s roughly 20,000 fighters, as envisioned by Trump’s 20-point plan for ending the Gaza war.” — Source: Times of Israel

Times of Israel

There is a lack of confirmation regarding the cancellation of the meeting from independent sources, as the report originated from Al-Mayadeen, a Hezbollah-linked outlet. Additionally, the willingness of Hamas fighters to disarm remains unclear, and there are no definitive statements from either party regarding the future of negotiations.

Times of Israel