Israeli report says Hamas leader met Trump adviser in Qatar as commentators warn group is regrouping

Israeli state broadcaster Kan reported on Sunday that senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya recently met with an adviser to US President Donald Trump in Qatar, citing senior political sources in Washington and Tel Aviv.

The report did not identify the adviser or provide further details about the meeting, and there was no immediate confirmation from Hamas or US officials.

The report comes amid an ongoing debate in Israel over the outcome of the war in Gaza and Hamas’s future capabilities.

Writing in Yedioth Ahronoth, Israeli commentator Avi Issacharoff argued that, despite nearly three years of war, Hamas has retained political control over the Gaza Strip and is rebuilding its military capabilities.

Issacharoff wrote that, following the 7th October 2023 attack, […]