Some Arab mediators involved in efforts to end the war in Gaza believe they can persuade Hamas to partially give up its weapons. This marks a significant development, as complete disarmament has long been a steadfast red line for the militant group, according to three individuals knowledgeable about the mediators’ discussions.
These sources, consisting of two officials and a person closely associated with the negotiators, spoke anonymously to share details of these sensitive conversations. They indicated that Hamas might agree to relinquish some of its weaponry, contingent upon a guarantee from President Trump that Israel would not restart military operations.
Izzat al-Rishq, who directs Hamas’s media office from Qatar, chose not to comment when asked directly about the possibility of the group surrendering any of its arms.
Indirect discussions between Hamas and Israel, initiated in Egypt this week, are primarily focused on a potential exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Even if an agreement on this exchange is reached, substantial disagreements persist between the two sides, with the future of Hamas’s arsenal being a central sticking point.
Israel has consistently maintained that Hamas must lay down its arms before the Gaza conflict can conclude. The militant group has traditionally viewed such a demand as equivalent to surrender, considering armed resistance against Israel to be a fundamental tenet of its ideology. Experts generally agree that convincing Hamas to fully disarm remains highly improbable.
“Hamas might be willing to give up some weapons, but they won’t go without them altogether,” stated Adi Rotem, a retired Israeli intelligence officer who was part of Israel’s Gaza war negotiating team until December 2024. “Weapons are a core part of Hamas’s DNA.”
While some within the group advocate against surrendering any weapons, even if it means enduring continued Israeli offensives in Gaza and further Palestinian casualties, others suggest that Hamas must now adopt a more pragmatic approach. The apparent openness of some members to consider a compromise on their weapons underscores the severe impact of two years of Israeli attacks on the group.
A Palestinian analyst with close ties to Hamas leadership, who also spoke anonymously to discuss the group’s internal considerations, suggested that Hamas might agree to hand over a limited number of weapons if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu required a symbolic victory to conclude the war.
The analyst further noted that the group might also pledge not to use its weapons outside Gaza for an extended period.
One of the individuals familiar with the mediators’ perspective indicated that Hamas would likely argue for retaining its small arms post-war, citing the need to protect its members from potential reprisals by Palestinian political rivals and other militias in Gaza.
The peace talks are being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. On Wednesday, Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, joined the discussions, accompanied by Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and former regional adviser.
Mr. Witkoff and Mr. Kushner played key roles in developing Mr. Trump’s 20-point plan for ending the war, which was unveiled at the White House last week.
Also attending the talks were Ron Dermer, a close adviser to Mr. Netanyahu; Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, the Qatari prime minister; and Ibrahim Kalin, the head of Turkey’s intelligence agency.
Taher al-Nounou, a senior Hamas official, confirmed on Wednesday that negotiators from both the group and Israel had exchanged lists of Palestinian prisoners to be released as part of a hostage exchange agreement.
Mr. Trump’s peace proposal called for the demilitarization of Gaza, including the destruction of all “military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities.” Despite two years of conflict, Israeli military officials report that a significant portion of Hamas’s tunnel network remains intact.
The plan emphasized that demilitarization would be overseen by independent monitors, ensuring weapons are “permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning.”
On Monday, Mr. Trump stated that Hamas was “agreeing to things that are very important,” without providing further details.
This past Tuesday, Israelis and Palestinians commemorated the two-year anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which initiated the war in Gaza.
According to Israeli authorities, approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, lost their lives in the October 2023 attack, and 251 individuals were abducted. The Gaza health ministry reports that over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ensuing war, a figure that does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.