Trump special envoy plans to meet with Hamas official: Report

​​​​​​​By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff plans to meet soon with Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, according to a report published Friday.

The date for the meeting has not been finalized, the New York Times reported, citing two anonymous sources, who added that plans could change. One of the officials said Witkoff is seeking to address the ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip that has been in place since October.

The meeting would "illustrate that Mr. Witkoff is not deterred by Israeli and American critics who say that U.S. engagement with Hamas offers the group unwarranted legitimacy," the New York Times reported.

Neither the White House nor Hamas responded to requests for comment.

But the sit-down would not be the first between Witkoff and al-Hayya. They first met in October ahead of the signing of the ceasefire agreement, and Witkoff said he commiserated with al-Hayaa over their shared experience of having lost a son.

Witkoff's son, Andrew, died of an opioid overdose in 2011. Himam al-Hayya was killed by an Israeli attack on Doha, Qatar, in September that was intended to kill Khalil al-Hayya and other senior Hamas officials.

“I told him that I had lost a son,” Witkoff said during an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes television program, “and that we were both members of a really bad club, parents who have buried children.”