Hamas’s announcement that it is prepared to surrender its weapons represents one of the most significant concessions ever made by the Palestinian resistance movement. For decades, the organisation has combined political activity with an armed struggle aimed at liberating Palestine. Now, in a dramatic shift, it has agreed to hand over its arsenal to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a technocratic body established under US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative. In doing so, Hamas has effectively challenged Israel: it is ready to disarm, but will Tel Aviv reciprocate by ending its occupation of Gaza?
President Trump has welcomed the move, declaring that Israel is “very happy” with the development. Yet, at the time of writing, there has been no official response from the Israeli government. Many Israeli politicians, including members of the cabinet, have dismissed the gesture, insisting that Hamas must be destroyed rather than accommodated. Whether Israel chooses to honour its end of the bargain and withdraw from Gaza remains the critical question. Past precedent suggests caution, as successive Israeli governments have rarely kept their word on such matters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing elections in October, may find it politically difficult to appear conciliatory given the widespread anti‑Palestinian sentiment among voters. However, he may also be reluctant to antagonise Washington by undermining Mr Trump’s peace plan.
The humanitarian context underscores the urgency of the issue. Since the October 7, 2023 attacks, Israel has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including over 21,000 children. Although the intensity of violence has diminished since the ceasefire last year, the killings have not ceased, and Gaza’s humanitarian situation remains dire. Hamas and other Palestinian groups have maintained armed resistance largely because Israel has closed off peaceful avenues for resolving the conflict. The Israeli political establishment remains opposed to a Palestinian state, illegal settlements continue to expand, Gaza lies in ruins, and provocations at Al Aqsa persist.
For genuine progress, there must be a clear pathway to Palestinian statehood, an end to Israeli violence against Arab populations, and complete withdrawal from occupied territories. Given the current political climate in Israel, such demands may appear unrealistic. Nevertheless, if Mr Trump wishes to be seen as a peacemaker, he and the Board of Peace must press Israel to begin by withdrawing from Gaza and allowing unhindered humanitarian assistance into the Strip.
If Tel Aviv refuses to vacate Gaza, it will demonstrate to the world that it is not serious about peace and remains committed to occupation and the systematic destruction of the Palestinian people. Hamas’s decision to disarm is a major concession, but without reciprocal action from Israel, it risks becoming yet another unfulfilled gesture in a long history of broken promises.
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