What happened?
- Hamas has expressed willingness to agree to a truce of five years or more with Israel and to transition into a political party if an independent Palestinian state is established along pre-1967 borders.
- The group aims to join the Palestinian Liberation Organization to form a unified government in Gaza and the West Bank.
- Hamas envisions a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the current territories, with plans to dissolve its military wing upon achieving statehood.
What is Arab media saying:
- Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas political official, stated these intentions amid a stalemate in ceasefire talks, reported by English Aawsat.
- Al-Hayya emphasized that Hamas does not oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state, but rather the occupation and the Zionist project. This claim was reported by Asharq Al-Awsatand Al Jazeera.
- Israel, however, is unlikely to consider this scenario, vowing instead to defeat the group following the deadly Oct. 7 attacks, English Aawsat reports.
- Israel is preparing for an offensive in Rafah, but Al-Hayya believes it will not succeed in destroying Hamas, English Aawsat adds.
What is International media saying:
- The suggestion by Hamas to disarm is viewed as a significant step given its historical stance, as covered by AP News.
- Israel is skeptical of Hamas’s offer, due to their ongoing commitment to crush the group and opposition to a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, AP News reports.
What is Israeli media saying:
- Yahya Sinwar, the deputy leader of Hamas in Gaza, has been active in leadership roles, contrary to claims of his isolation, as reported by Maariv.
- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has indicated that Hamas supports a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, signaling a readiness to end the armed struggle if such a state is established, according to Ynet.
Sources:
