DaysofPal – Hamas has informed mediators that it is willing to halt all offensive operations in Gaza for up to a decade and bury its weapons if Israeli forces completely withdraw from the enclave, according to a senior Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations.
The offer, conveyed last week to Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators in Cairo, marks what the official described as a “substantive and momentum-building move” as ceasefire negotiations enter a critical stage.
A Long-Term Hudna Under International Supervision
“The proposal is clear,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. “Hamas is offering a guarantee that no weapon will be fired from Gaza against Israel. The movement is ready to bury the weapons and establish a seven- to ten-year hudna.”
A hudna is a long-term, formally observed truce in Islamic tradition. Under the proposal, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey would serve as guarantors, supervising Hamas’s compliance and ensuring that weapons remain inactive.
During this period, the official said, “Gaza will be busy with itself,” referencing reconstruction, governance, and recovery after more than two years of war, displacement, and siege.
The offer represents a significant departure from Hamas’s long-standing position that it would only relinquish weapons under the authority of a democratically elected leadership of a fully sovereign Palestinian state. The proposal applies solely to Gaza, without addressing Hamas’s presence or activities in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli raids continue despite the ceasefire.
The official emphasized that regional diplomatic changes played a key role in shaping Hamas’s proposal. He highlighted what he described as Cairo’s “notable shift” in favor of Palestinian needs, particularly Egypt’s insistence that the Rafah crossing must reopen in both directions, including for displaced Palestinians attempting to return home.
Israel has permitted movement only out of Gaza, blocking thousands from returning to the north and central areas.
“The mediators have renewed relations with Hamas,” the official said. “Hamas has responded with pragmatic steps, aiming for common ground.”
A Ceasefire Under Strain
At the Doha Forum on Saturday, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, warned that the ceasefire had reached “a critical stage” and stressed that reopening Rafah in both directions was essential to stabilizing Gaza.
“A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of Israeli forces,” he said.
Since the truce began on 10 October, Palestinian authorities say Israeli strikes, drone attacks, and other violations have continued, with more than 600 documented incidents, leaving at least 360 Palestinians killed and over 900 wounded.
Israel has released thousands of Palestinian detainees under the ceasefire framework but continues to hold dozens of political leaders and senior factional figures. Rights groups have criticized the conditions of detention, citing extremely restricted food provision.
The senior Palestinian official acknowledged the agreement’s deficiencies but defended Hamas’s acceptance of the ceasefire. He said Israeli forces remain stationed along what Israel calls the “yellow line,” maintaining control over roughly 53 percent of Gaza, including productive agricultural zones.
“Of course Hamas believes the agreement is not ideal, but the priority was stopping the war,” he said. “Many issues remain unresolved and are now the subject of internal Palestinian dialogue.”
U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point proposal for Gaza, centered on an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and a technocratic Palestinian government, remains mired in ambiguity.
Washington insists it expects “boots on the ground” early next year, and Indonesia has signaled readiness to contribute troops. But no country has been given clarity on deployment locations, rules of engagement, or command structures.
“No state will send forces without a defined mission,” the Palestinian official said. “So far, there is no concrete plan.”
A Rare Rift Between Washington and Tel Aviv
The official argued that Hamas believes Washington may be applying new pressure on Israel, pointing to recent communication highlighted by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff suggested offering amnesty to more than 150 Hamas fighters trapped in Rafah, a proposal Trump reportedly raised directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Internationally, the view is shifting,” the official said. “All capitals know that the party violating the ceasefire is Israel, not Hamas.”
Asked whether Palestinians felt abandoned by Arab and Muslim governments, many of which backed an agreement that avoided any reference to Palestinian statehood, the official said Palestinians had no illusions.
“After God, the Palestinian people depend only on themselves. We will not surrender or abandon our struggle,” he said.
“It is not easy to force Israel to retreat. But in the end, we will achieve our rights.”
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