ALBAWABA — A Palestinian source, privy to the conversations, suggests that unannounced agreements might have been struck between Hamas and the United States, possibly aiming to alter the political and security landscape within the Gaza Strip.
The source described a proposed framework: Hamas would disarm and share maps of its tunnel system. In exchange, the group would be treated as a political entity, no longer a target for military action. The specifics of the arms and information transfer remain undisclosed.
Under these reported understandings, Hamas leaders—both political and military—could leave Gaza if they wished. The U.S. would offer assurances that they wouldn't be pursued in the future, whether in Turkey or other nations prepared to accept them.
Simultaneously, Washington is reportedly considering how to include a small number of Hamas-affiliated police and former civil servants in a future Gaza administration. This integration would hinge on a joint security screening, a process involving both the United States and Israel.
Reactions have varied.
The source indicates that U.S. officials have communicated to mediators that Israel has voiced significant concerns about several elements of the proposal. The primary sticking point appears to be the potential for Hamas to continue its involvement in Palestinian politics. Israeli opposition, according to reports, centers on the possibility of legitimizing Hamas in the aftermath of the conflict.
The Palestinian Authority, in contrast, seems more open to this approach, assuming it helps secure a lasting ceasefire, ends the war, and speeds up Gaza's reconstruction.
Even with the second phase of the ceasefire agreement underway, tensions persist. Hamas claims Israel is still conducting military operations throughout the enclave, even in areas not directly controlled by Israel.
Taher Al-Nunu, a media adviser to Hamas’s political leadership, stated that the conflict can't be solved just by talking about weapons, insisting that the occupation itself is the main obstacle to peace.
Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Toll
Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday claimed the lives of at least 11 Palestinians and left others wounded in various locations throughout Gaza, as reported by local sources. The Israeli military maintains its presence in southern and eastern Gaza, along with substantial areas in the north, effectively controlling over half of the territory.
Since the conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, the death toll among Palestinians has exceeded 71,000, with more than 171,000 others injured. Approximately 90% of Gaza's civilian infrastructure has suffered damage or destruction.
Despite a ceasefire coming into force on October 10, 2025, at least 480 Palestinians have been killed and over 1,280 injured since then. This has occurred against a backdrop of continued Israeli restrictions on food, medical supplies, and shelter provisions, plunging Gaza's population into dire humanitarian circumstances.
