Reports indicate that divisions among Hamas political leaders and the armed factions in Gaza may hinder the rollout of President Trump’s peace efforts aimed at resolving the conflict with Israel.
On Friday, the political wing of Hamas issued a statement suggesting a tentative agreement to release Israeli hostages, which aligns with Trump’s initiative to end hostilities in Gaza.
Yet, many factions are opposed to two key components of the Trump Peace Plan: disarmament and the release of nearly 50 Israeli hostages—including those accused of serious crimes—within a 72-hour timeframe.
According to reports, there’s a significant rift between Hamas negotiators located outside Gaza and the Izz Ad-Din al-Qassam brigade, the group’s armed division. These negotiators may be somewhat receptive to the Trump plan, though they tread cautiously, while the more extremist wing shows strong reluctance to relinquish their weapons or free hostages.
Hamas might only agree to release hostages if there’s a definite commitment to remove its forces from Israeli territories, sources have indicated.
Despite facing substantial skepticism, Khalil Al-Hayya, one of Hamas’ senior negotiators, along with a few other political figures, appears to back the Trump plan, albeit their influence on the armed factions remains limited.
Ezedin al-Haddad, who took over as Hamas leader after the deaths of commanders Yahya and Mohammed Sinwar, has indicated a willingness to negotiate—but not necessarily to disarm. He has reportedly suggested transferring some offensive weapons to Egypt and the United Nations for safekeeping while wanting to retain lighter defensive arms like rifles.
Even if Hamas leaders reach a consensus on disarmament, enforcing compliance among their ranks might prove difficult, particularly if the perception is that they are effectively capitulating.
The statement from Hamas regarding Trump’s peace plan seems deliberately ambiguous, suggesting that their support hinges on specific conditions being met. They mentioned a willingness to release all prisoners but linked this to the need for Israeli forces to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
It remains uncertain whether Israel would agree to a ceasefire without significant concessions in arms from Hamas.
In a response on social media, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) described the situation as “unfortunately predictable,” viewing it as a classic “yes” response to negotiations.
He elaborated that linking disarmament to Palestinian governance and tying hostage releases to broader negotiations appears to be a rejection of Trump’s straightforward proposal.
Analysts suggest that Hamas’ statement may serve as a delaying tactic as they try to mend the long-standing divide between their political and military factions.
The ongoing conflict began nearly two years ago with a major attack by Hamas in southern Israel resulting in numerous casualties. On the ground, although Hamas is facing significant pressure and has lost many senior leaders along with a substantial number of fighters, it continues to hold its ground.
New recruits are often poorly trained, and escalating Israeli control over Gaza has complicated Hamas’ internal communication and strategies.
In a bid to adapt, Hamas has been delegating authority to smaller, independent units, which have been employing tactics involving explosives, snipers, and rocket fire, according to Israeli military sources.
The leadership of Haddad and others over these units is reportedly limited, a situation worsened by financial difficulties affecting their ability to pay fighters.
