Hamas Leader Offers Talks with Abbas, Cites U.S. Meetings

Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas's political bureau, revealed in a televised interview on Saturday that he has held multiple meetings with American officials. He also expressed readiness to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, emphasizing that a ceasefire in Gaza must precede any national unity efforts.

Al-Hayya discussed the ongoing developments regarding a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, including disputes over its implementation and the transition to subsequent stages. He also touched upon Palestinian elections, internal Palestinian relations, and Hamas's communications with the U.S., noting the role of Nikolay Mladenov, the UN envoy for the Middle East peace process, in these discussions.

The Hamas official reiterated the movement's stance that securing a permanent end to the war and addressing its consequences are the top priorities before engaging in broader internal political steps. He considered the current phase focused on ending the conflict and its repercussions, rather than immediate political initiatives.

These statements come amid continuous regional and international efforts to finalize the ceasefire agreement and plan for the next phase in Gaza, with disagreements persisting over certain clauses and the transition process. Al-Hayya's willingness to meet Abbas signals a potential for addressing outstanding issues among Palestinian factions.

Furthermore, al-Hayya mentioned Hamas's offer to mediate in the conflict in Yemen. He previously called for a Palestinian national dialogue and the rebuilding of the Palestine Liberation Organization on democratic and consensus-based foundations following his election as Hamas's political bureau chief.