A top Hamas political official stated in an interview that the group would be willing to agree to a truce lasting five years or more with Israel and disarm if an independent Palestinian state is established along pre-1967 borders. This suggestion by Khalil al-Hayya comes amid talks for a cease-fire in Gaza, though Israel is unlikely to consider such terms due to its commitment to crush Hamas. Al-Hayya also mentioned Hamas’ desire to join the Palestine Liberation Organization and form a unified government for Gaza and the West Bank, with the military wing dissolving under certain conditions.
While Hamas has sometimes moderated its stance on a Palestinian state alongside Israel, its official position still aligns with the full liberation of Palestine, including areas captured by Israel in the 1967 war. The Palestinian Authority, hoping to establish a state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, supports a two-state solution, which Israel’s hard-line government adamantly rejects. The war in Gaza, ongoing for nearly seven months, has led to significant casualties and displacement, with Israel preparing for an offensive in Rafah against Hamas.
Al-Hayya claimed that an offensive in Rafah would not destroy Hamas and emphasized ongoing coordination between the group’s political and military leadership inside Gaza. Talks for a longer-term cease-fire have stalled, with each side accusing the other of intransigence. Hamas officials have relocated to Turkey from Qatar, raising concerns about the role of Qatar as a mediator. Despite accusations of not being serious about a deal, Hamas has said it made concessions regarding the release of Palestinian prisoners and demands a permanent cease-fire and full Israeli withdrawal.
Hamas leader Al-Hayya stated that Hamas does not regret the Oct. 7 attacks, denying that civilians were targeted during the operation and justifying the destruction caused by bringing attention to the Palestinian cause. He also implicitly threatened to attack any foreign military presence, including around a floating pier for aid delivery to Gaza. Al-Hayya questioned the effectiveness of Israeli attempts to eradicate Hamas, emphasizing that the Palestinian people and their resistance would persist despite any military actions. Despite the olive branch extended in talks about a truce, the situation in Gaza remains volatile, with the potential for ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel.
