A senior Palestinian source confirmed to Israel Hayom that Hamas leadership is now willing to discuss Israeli demands for the terror group to disarm and for its leaders to exit the Gaza Strip in exchange for ending the war.
The source close to Hamas leadership noted, however, that not all leaders accept these terms, though negotiators have been authorized to discuss them and hear proposals from mediators. The source confirmed that primary opposition comes from the military wing leadership in Gaza, headed by Mohammed Sinwar, the remaining senior commander. Hamas is also offering counterproposals that include allowing them to remain in Gaza, including armed units under a Palestinian "police" force.
Sinwar likely bases his resistance on the calculation that Israel will be forced to cease hostilities even without accepting its conditions, due to several factors: internal pressure within Israel, ongoing demonstrations, and deepening social and political divisions (reflected in hostage propaganda videos).
On a broader level, reports about the wearing down of IDF forces and reservists, and perhaps most significantly, President Donald Trump's desire to end the fighting before his arrival in the region next month, and the pending mega-deal with Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, given the dire situation from Sinwar's perspective – the heavy casualties Hamas continues to suffer, growing civilian resentment toward the organization, and lack of support from virtually all Arab nations for continued fighting – a pathway has emerged for an agreement that could end the war while allowing Hamas to claim its initial achievements.
The shift in Hamas' position stems from intensifying military pressure, supply cutoffs, and the support the Trump administration, unlike its predecessor, provides to Israel's negotiating positions. This backing eventually prompted Egypt and Qatar to change their stance and join the demand for Hamas to disarm. Their position change, essentially adopting the Israeli position, has left Hamas isolated and cornered. According to the Palestinian source, this is the primary reason most of Hamas's external leadership is now willing to consider Israeli demands.
American and Arab diplomatic officials confirmed to Israel Hayom that progress is being made on this front. According to one official, the transition from a temporary agreement to a comprehensive framework for ending the war aligns with President Trump's directives, as he wants to arrive in the region by mid-next month without hearing explosions from the Gaza Strip. "This visit is critical for Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the entire region – ending the war or establishing a ceasefire is a particularly important condition for its success," one diplomat said. The sources added that on most other issues, there are relatively minor disagreements, such as timetables for releasing hostages, the number of terrorists to be freed, resuming supplies, and other details.
Looking ahead: These contacts are expected to continue for days and possibly weeks, due to the disputes outlined above and resistance from Hamas's extremist faction. Israel maintains silence and secrecy, partly to prevent leaks of agreed-upon clauses that might provoke opposition from the hawkish elements of the coalition. A coalition source told Israel Hayom that he finds it difficult to imagine opposition to an agreement that would remove Hamas from Gaza and disarm the territory, but noted there could be resistance to certain provisions, such as an Israeli withdrawal and the timeline for ending combat operations.
