Meanwhile, Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, appears averse to disarmament. They stipulated stringent terms, primary of which was the creation of a viable, independent Palestinian state. The announcement comes on the heels of an incredibly violent and tumultuous period inside Gaza. In recent months, Hamas lawmakers have restored their position after a short-lived ceasefire.
The regime’s history of repression has fully extended to massacring their own citizens who dare to speak out. In May 2023, according to news reports, Hamas publicly shot six people accused of looting. They targeted and shot an additional 13 victims in the legs during this period of civil unrest. Gazans are staging incredible courageous and heroic protests in the face of this savage repression. They all blame Hamas for the continuing death, deprivation, and destruction that persists in their area.
After the October 7 attacks on Israel, which horrifically killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage, Hamas has returned its men to the streets. The state of play is still highly fluid. In response, the group—including Palestinian clans—executed members of a rival clan for allegedly robbing weapons and cash from Israel’s coffers. This brutal act not only re-asserted their control over Gaza, it very publicly put their security forces back on the streets.
Recent Developments in Gaza
In the weeks since the ceasefire ended, Hamas has taken steps to reassert its control over most of Gaza. One way the group has entrenched its rule is through the appointment of three governors to oversee each of its provinces. Hazem Qasem, Hamas’s spokesperson, said in a recent interview that they have no plans to rule Gaza permanently.
“Hamas says clearly that it does not want to be in any of the administrative arrangements that deal with governing the Gaza Strip in the so-called ‘day after,’” – Hazem Qasem
This statement has sparked a legitimate debate about Hamas’s role in any future governance and their stated desire to work with the Palestinian Authority. Yet, despite Hamas’ presence, Israel’s military controls about 53 percent of the land within the Gaza Strip.
Yet even today, the group’s reputation is sullied by allegations of vicious crackdowns on dissent. Prior to the war, Gazans were deeply dissatisfied with Hamas’s governance and had recently staged protests against the group. In a 2024 statewide poll conducted by Zogby Research Services, just 7 percent of state residents wished to see Hamas remain in power.
Regional and International Implications
The changing geopolitical picture in and around Gaza has raised many questions regarding any possible, and eventual, reconstruction. Jared Kushner, advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, had previously announced plans to restrict reconstruction funds. These funds would be earmarked for Israeli-occupied territories and not for areas governed by Hamas. This strategy is part of a larger international trend to cut off funding to organizations considered adversarial or engaged in terroristic activity.
Oded Ailam, a former head of counterterrorism for Israel’s Mossad, described Hamas as “crime families,” emphasizing their unpopularity among Gazans. Such a negative perception makes any eventual reconstruction or negotiation of new terms of governance and security in Gaza extremely difficult.
“It’s like letting Tony Soprano run New Jersey, so they are not very popular in Gaza,” – Oded Ailam
In this time of continued conflict, it’s especially important that we ask and address how security and governance can and should be delivered across the region. That’s right—there must be compromise to achieve any meaningful progress at all, particularly in the disarmament sphere.
The Path Forward
Hazem Qasem articulated a potential pathway forward for Hamas, stating that disarmament could be discussed if certain conditions are met. Second, he argued that a dialogue should begin among Palestinians, and eventually in formal talks, on how to control the circumstances of the conflict with Israel.
“The issue of the weapons … needs a Palestinian consensus and an internal debate as to how to manage the conflict between us and the [Israeli] occupation,” – Hazem Qasem
He claimed that conversations about disarmament will occur only after we acknowledge Palestinians’ rights. These rights are enshrined in international law and UN resolutions that uphold the right of self-determination, which includes independence on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Regional tensions continue to rise, and international diplomacy is in a state of flux. We don’t know yet if Hamas really means to disarm or whether these negotiations will result in something tangible.
“But I think we need some kind of compromise because Hamas would never accept disarming completely unless it is very tangibly connected to an Israeli withdrawal and to a Palestinian state,” – Oded Ailam
