What Husam Badran, a member of Hamas’s Political Bureau, said last night is not new (that Hamas has agreed to withdraw from governance and administrative arrangements in the Gaza Strip). However, they have yet to declare what will be done with their weapons and armed forces—which is, in fact, the central issue. I am aware that discussions on this matter are ongoing within Hamas’s leadership abroad, and opinions are divided.
Meanwhile, a joint position is taking shape among Arab states—including Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia—that Hamas cannot continue to rule Gaza or maintain an armed militia. Jordan is even prepared to train a new Palestinian security force. Thus, discussions about the “day after” are underway in the region—though it is regrettable that Israel is not engaging in substantive deliberations on the issue.
The war will truly end only when no hostages remain in Gaza and Hamas no longer governs it, both administratively or militarily. This objective can only be achieved through a political solution and regional cooperation, bolstered by U.S. support under the leadership of [Donald] Trump.
