ISTANBUL. Khalil al-Hayya, a prominent Hamas political figure, revealed to The Associated Press the group’s readiness to consider a ceasefire lasting five years or more with Israel. Al-Hayya indicated that Hamas would disarm and transition into a political entity if an independent Palestinian state were established along pre-1967 borders.
In an interview on Wednesday, amidst stalled talks for a Gaza ceasefire, al-Hayya’s remarks suggested a significant shift in Hamas’s position, which has historically advocated for Israel’s destruction.
Despite Hamas’s proposal, Israel remains unlikely to entertain the notion. Following the deadly Oct. 7 attacks that sparked the conflict, Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas. The current Israeli leadership staunchly opposes the creation of a Palestinian state on territories captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
Al-Hayya, representing Hamas in ceasefire and hostage exchange negotiations, conveyed a blend of defiance and conciliation. He expressed Hamas’s desire to integrate into the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) alongside the rival Fatah faction, aiming to establish a unified government for Gaza and the West Bank.
The Hamas official outlined the group’s vision for a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with the return of Palestinian refugees in accordance with international resolutions, along Israel’s pre-1967 borders. In this scenario, he asserted, Hamas’s military wing would dissolve.
While Hamas has occasionally moderated its stance on a Palestinian state alongside Israel, its official political program maintains rejection of alternatives to the full liberation of Palestine.
There has been no immediate reaction from Israel or the Palestinian Authority, the internationally recognized government from which Hamas ousted in 2007. The Palestinian Authority aspires to establish an independent state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, territories occupied by Israel in 1967. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government vehemently opposes this solution.
As ceasefire negotiations stagnate and the Gaza conflict prolongs, with casualties mounting, Hamas remains resolute. Al-Hayya dismissed Israel’s efforts to dismantle Hamas, asserting the necessity of a consensus-based solution.
Moreover, amid shifting diplomatic dynamics, Hamas’s top officials have relocated from Qatar to Turkey, maintaining Hamas’s commitment to Qatar’s mediation role.
Despite international skepticism and Israeli accusations of insincerity, Hamas insists on its demands for a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza. Al-Hayya warned of repercussions against any non-Palestinian presence in Gaza, underscoring Hamas’s steadfastness in confronting perceived threats.
While al-Hayya defended Hamas’s actions in the Oct. 7 attacks, denying deliberate targeting of civilians, he asserted Hamas’s resilience in the face of Israeli aggression.
As Hamas navigates diplomatic challenges and confronts military pressure, the group’s willingness to compromise for a Palestinian state raises questions about the future trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
