Amidst rising tensions in the Middle East, where the political climate of 2026 remains extremely unstable, the Hamas group has made a loud statement directed at the international arena. During a recent meeting in Egypt, the organization's leader met with US President Donald Trump's special representative, Jared Kushner. Following the dialogue, Hamas officially appealed to the 'Peace Council' created by Trump, demanding the use of all pressure levers to force Israel to accept the proposed plan for resolving the situation in the Gaza Strip.
Demand for Enforced Compliance
The group's statement contains a clear call for the 'Peace Council' to intervene and 'force' Israeli authorities to fulfill their obligations. Specifically, Hamas demands an end to violations, killings, and incursions, as well as approval of a 'roadmap' for the second phase of the ceasefire plan. This plan was developed with US mediation and implies a phased resolution of the conflict. However, as sources note, Hamas sets strict conditions: the implementation of the disarmament plan will begin only if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly confirms his commitment to the agreement's terms.
Israel's Position and Election Rhetoric
Meanwhile, the Israeli side maintains a tough position. According to The Times of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu publicly opposed Hamas's proposal and, apparently, does not intend to change his stance. This is explained by the approaching Knesset elections, which will take place on October 27, 2026. For the Israeli Prime Minister, supporting a peace plan that could be perceived by the electorate as a concession to terrorists is a politically risky step. Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip is possible only with the real, not formal, cessation of Hamas's existence.
Contradictory Data
An analysis of the situation reveals significant disagreements in assessing the prospects of the peace process. On the one hand, the 'Peace Council' hopes that it will be enough to quietly persuade Netanyahu to restore the cessation of IDF strikes on Gaza so that Hamas begins the disarmament process. On the other hand, Arab diplomats and Hamas representatives point out that the terrorist group will not make concessions without a public statement from the Israeli Prime Minister supporting the peace plan. This creates a deadlock in negotiations where each side demands public guarantees from the other that may be politically disadvantageous.
Context of the Disarmament Deal
Recall that a few weeks ago, US President Donald Trump announced that the 'Peace Council' had reached a deal with Hamas. According to this deal, the group was supposed to disarm, and control over the civilian sphere and security sector in the Gaza Strip was transferred to a new Palestinian government. However, this initiative was blocked by Israel. Netanyahu rejected the peace initiative, stating that the withdrawal of Israeli troops is possible only with the real destruction of Hamas. Thus, Hamas's current appeal to the 'Peace Council' is an attempt to bypass Israeli resistance through international pressure.
