Steve Witkoff, Hamas leader al-Hayya grieved together for dead sons: Inside the Sharm el-Sheikh secret meet

While the negotiators were giving final touches to the last stages of discussion in the Gaza ceasefire deal, a crucial  meeting happened between Trump’s  Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya at the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh. As per reports, it was this meeting, which also included Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, that was instrumental in breaking the stalemate and sealing the deal.

While the negotiations centered around Trump's 20-point peace plan, both Witkoff and Hayya shared a heartfelt moment over a rather personal aspect of their lives: the loss of their sons.

Kusher and Witkoff were given the green light by Trump to meet Hamas leaders if necessary to seal a deal. They conveyed this information to the Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators. Around 11 pm, Qatari mediators arrived at Witkoff’s villa at the Four Seasons to inform that there was a stalemate in the talks. Soon after that, both Kushner and Witkoff walked into the villa where the Hamas delegation stayed.

Witkoff, on meeting Hayya, offered his condolences over the killing of his son  in Doha. Hayya’s son Humam was killed in the Israeli airstrike in Doha, according to Middle East Eye.

The attack was designed to kill Hayya along with other top Hamas officials, but he managed to escape unhurt. A week later, Hamas sent Hayya to negotiate with Israel.

Witkoff spoke about his own late son, telling Hayya how much he understands the pain of losing a child. The US envoy told Hayya about his son Andrew’s  death at 22 from an OxyContin overdose. “Since then, I have dedicated myself  to ending the suffering of others," Witkoff told Hayya, adding that this was a motivation for him to ensure the end of the war.

The envoy later spoke about how he could feel the presence of his son Andrew in his emotional post on X. “Bringing their bodies home is a must and an act of dignity and honors their memory forever. I can’t help but feel the presence of my son Andrew at this moment,” he added.

It was Kushner’s turn to address Hayya. Trump’s son-in-law said that he spoke as both Jewish and American and was committed to ending the war. "We insist on focusing on the issue of ending the war and completing the exchange of hostages, and want to avoid all matters that could hinder negotiations," Witkoff insisted.

Kushner, who is US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, then said: “We speak as both Jewish and American when we say we are committed to ensuring this is the end of the war”. Both envoys reiterated Trump’s determination to end the two-year conflict completely. Hayya also said that Hamas had always been willing to end the war and suffering in Gaza.

A source later told US media Axios that the willingness of Witkoff and Kushner to meet Hayya and other leaders was instrumental in sealing the deal, despite the political risks involved. “This is why when President Trump's envoys gave their word that this deal will be fully enforced, they believed it," sources told Axios.

 

Middle East