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Struggle over Hamas Disarmament Delays Hostage Deal

(Israel Hayom) Danny Zaken - Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have resumed in Qatar through mediators. However, the core obstacle to ending the war remains Hamas's refusal to disarm and relinquish its military and civil control over Gaza. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the PA consider Hamas's disarmament a fundamental condition for any post-war arrangement. Khaled Abu Toameh, a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs specializing in Palestinian politics, warns that any reconstruction effort without Hamas's disarmament would replicate the Lebanese model, where a terrorist organization holds real power while an impotent government exists only on paper. Hamas is actively replenishing its ranks, funded by money accumulated from U.S. and international aid, as well as from the black-market sale of humanitarian supplies it has seized. New recruits receive a large food package, a $50 grant, and a monthly salary of up to $100. A senior Israeli official confirmed that Israel's primary focus is securing the release of as many living hostages as possible. If it becomes evident that further hostage releases cannot be secured through negotiations, Israel will have no choice but to resume military operations.
2025-03-13 00:00:00
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