Qatari mediators have ordered senior Hamas commanders based in Doha to surrender their personal firearms as part of ongoing US-brokered negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire agreement with Israel and ending the Gaza conflict, according to The Times. This development comes as President Donald Trump announced that Israel has already accepted a 60-day halt to hostilities while both sides explore the possibility of a permanent truce arrangement.
The terrorist organization issued a statement Wednesday confirming their examination of the latest ceasefire proposal, with The Times reporting that Hamas leadership expressed willingness to engage in discussions. The group declared their intention to pursue "an agreement that will ensure the end of aggressions, the withdrawal of forces and granting aid to the people of Gaza," according to their official statement.
The Times learned that the directive to disarm affects the most prominent Hamas officials operating outside Gaza, including chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya and other pivotal figures within the organization's hierarchy. The instruction represents a significant symbolic gesture as Israel has consistently demanded Hamas' complete disarmament and the departure of remaining leadership from Gaza as prerequisites for ending the war.
The weapon surrender order specifically targets Hamas political bureau members Zaher Jabareen, who helped establish the group's armed wing in the West Bank, and Muhammad Ismail Darwish, who conducted diplomatic missions with Iranian and Turkish officials while traveling between Cairo and Doha for indirect negotiations with Israel. These individuals have been central to Hamas' negotiation efforts throughout the conflict.
The symbolic nature of this disarmament cannot be understated, as it aligns with Israeli demands for Hamas' total elimination as a terrorist organization. Israeli officials have maintained that complete destruction of Hamas remains essential for concluding the conflict and securing lasting peace in the region.
Israeli forces continue advancing toward complete control of Gaza while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced his commitment to Hamas' total destruction during a recent visit to an Israeli oil pipeline facility. Netanyahu emphasized that Hamas must be completely eliminated to achieve war objectives, stating unequivocally that "Hamas will be no more."
"We shall completely destroy them," Netanyahu declared during his pipeline visit. "We will release all the hostages, together with the destruction of Hamas. Contrary to what is said, these are not conflicting objectives."
President Trump expressed optimism about securing at least a temporary ceasefire as early as next week, coinciding with his scheduled White House meeting with Netanyahu. Earlier that day, Israeli Minister Ron Dermer had conducted discussions with Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy, regarding the negotiation progress.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar responded by affirming Israel's commitment to securing the release of 50 remaining hostages, both living and deceased, currently held by Hamas, while simultaneously pursuing a comprehensive deal to end the conflict. Sa'ar emphasized Israel's genuine intentions regarding the negotiation process.
"We are serious in our will to reach a hostage deal and a ceasefire. We said yes to US special envoy Witkoff's proposals. There are some positive signs. I don't want to say more than that right now. But our goal is to begin proximity talks as soon as possible," Sa'ar stated.
The New York Times reported, citing an Israeli defense official and a Palestinian source close to Hamas, that the proposed agreement would involve releasing ten surviving hostages and returning 18 bodies currently held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The publication detailed the structured nature of the proposed exchanges.
The hostage releases and body returns would occur in stages across the 60-day period, with five separate groups facilitating the exchanges, according to the New York Times report. This staggered approach aims to maintain momentum throughout the ceasefire period while building confidence between the parties.
Nevertheless, Israeli negotiators have not yet been deployed to Doha or Cairo, which typically signals active negotiation phases. This absence suggests that while progress is being made, formal talks have not yet commenced in earnest.
Qatar has hosted Hamas' political bureau since 2012, despite having informally requested the group's departure on two previous occasions. While Qatari officials are applying pressure to Hamas negotiators in Doha, the ultimate authority to approve any agreement rests with Izz al-Din al-Haddad, Hamas' leader operating within Gaza.
An Egyptian-sponsored plan that received endorsement from Arab nations last year fell short of requiring Hamas to abandon their weapons but proposed alternatives to Islamist governance in Gaza. This plan represents ongoing regional diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict through political means.
