Riyadh: The US envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has engaged in discussions with a senior adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Riyadh. This meeting marks a significant diplomatic engagement, as reported by a media outlet.

According to Anadolu Agency, this encounter represents the first official interaction between a Trump administration representative and a Palestinian official since the November election. The meeting reportedly emerged after weeks of discreet negotiations between Trump administration members and Palestinian leaders.

The diplomatic dialogue comes on the heels of President Mahmoud Abbas's efforts to restore relations with Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign. Abbas had extended a letter of support to Trump following an assassination attempt during a political event in Pennsylvania on July 13, a gesture that Trump acknowledged positively.

In addition to the meeting in Riyadh, Witkoff is anticipated to visit the Gaza Strip. This visit is noteworthy as it will be the first by a US government official to the region in almost two decades.