US Engages Directly with Hamas Amid Talks to Disarm Gaza Group

In recent months, a Trump administration official has held direct meetings with senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, according to a report by Kan News. The meetings occurred amid ongoing negotiations aimed at disarming Hamas in Gaza. The official involved is Aryeh Lightstone, who serves both as an advisor to the US envoy Jason Greenblatt and to the Trump Peace Council. Previously, Greenblatt also met with al-Hayya during efforts to end the conflict and secure the release of hostages.

Israeli sources were aware of Lightstone's meetings with al-Hayya and described them as part of the broader dialogue led by Nickolay Mladenov to dismantle Hamas's weapons. However, according to Israeli officials, Hamas has adopted a more rigid stance in recent talks, which have largely regressed to disputes over defining heavy versus light weapons under the disarmament plan.

A Peace Council representative told Kan News that multiple negotiation rounds have taken place in recent months to agree on a roadmap for weapons disarmament in Gaza. The council continues diplomatic efforts to achieve this goal while advancing governance, rule of law, security, reconstruction, and economic development in Gaza.