Israel is unlikely to consider such a scenario, as it has made a strong commitment to crush Hamas in the aftermath of the devastating October 7 attacks that sparked the war. The current leadership of Israel is firmly against the idea of establishing a Palestinian state on the territories that were captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East conflict.
Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official who has been involved in negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage exchange, conveyed a mix of defiance and conciliation in his statements.
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In an interview with the AP in Istanbul, Al-Hayya expressed Hamas’ desire to join forces with the Palestine Liberation Organization, which is led by the rival Fatah faction, in order to establish a unified government for both Gaza and the West Bank. He emphasized that Hamas is willing to embrace the idea of a fully independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as the return of Palestinian refugees based on international resolutions. Al-Hayya also emphasized the importance of adhering to Israel’s pre-1967 borders in this process.
According to him, in the event of that occurrence, the military wing of the group would disband.
According to the speaker, those who fought against occupiers and eventually gained independence and their rights have undergone a transformation. They have transitioned from being defending fighting forces to becoming political parties, with their national army now serving as the protector of their state.
Over the years, Hamas has occasionally toned down its public stance regarding the potential for a Palestinian state alongside Israel. However, its political program continues to officially “reject any alternative to the complete liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea.” This refers to the territory encompassing the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, which includes the present-day lands of Israel.
Al-Hayya did not clarify whether his apparent acceptance of a two-state solution would bring an end to the Palestinian conflict with Israel or serve as a temporary measure towards the group’s ultimate objective of annihilating Israel.
Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the internationally recognized self-ruled government ousted by Hamas in 2007, did not offer an immediate response. Hamas took control of Gaza a year after winning Palestinian parliamentary elections, leaving the Palestinian Authority to oversee semi-autonomous areas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Authority aspires to establish an independent state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and Gaza, which were captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. While there is widespread international support for a two-state solution, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-line government refuses to accept it.
The war in Gaza has been ongoing for almost seven months, and the efforts to negotiate a cease-fire have reached a standstill. It all started with a devastating attack on southern Israel on October 7, where militants associated with Hamas took the lives of approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly innocent civilians. To make matters worse, they even took around 250 hostages into the enclave. In response, Israel launched a series of airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza, resulting in the tragic deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, with a significant majority being women and children, as confirmed by local health authorities. Additionally, this relentless conflict has forced approximately 80% of Gaza’s population, numbering 2.3 million, to flee their homes and seek shelter elsewhere.
Israel is currently making preparations for an offensive in the southern city of Rafah, which has become a refuge for over 1 million Palestinians.
Israel claims that it has successfully dismantled the majority of the initial two dozen Hamas battalions since the commencement of the war. However, it asserts that four remaining battalions are currently located in Rafah. Israel maintains that launching an offensive in Rafah is crucial in order to secure victory over Hamas.
According to Al-Hayya, the offensive would not be successful in dismantling Hamas. He emphasized that despite the war, there is continuous communication between the political leadership outside and the military leadership inside Gaza. The two groups consult with each other to make decisions, provide directions, and maintain contact.
According to the spokesperson, Israeli forces have not been able to completely eliminate more than 20% of Hamas’ capabilities, both in terms of manpower and resources on the ground. This raises the question of what the solution should be if they are unable to completely defeat Hamas. The spokesperson suggests that the solution lies in achieving consensus.
In November, over 100 hostages were released during a weeklong cease-fire in exchange for the freedom of numerous Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel. However, negotiations for a more extended truce and the release of the remaining hostages have hit a standstill, as both sides blame each other for being uncooperative. Qatar, a crucial mediator in these talks, has announced that it is currently reevaluating its role in the mediation process.
Israeli and U.S. officials have both criticized Hamas for their lack of commitment to reaching a deal.
Al-Hayya refuted these claims, asserting that Hamas has indeed made concessions in terms of the number of Palestinian prisoners it is seeking to have released in exchange for the remaining Israeli hostages. He clarified that the group is uncertain about the exact number of hostages still alive and held captive in Gaza.
Hamas remains firm in its stance, refusing to compromise on its demands for a lasting truce and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, Israel has shown reluctance to meet these conditions and insists on continuing its military actions until Hamas is decisively defeated. Furthermore, Israel plans to maintain a security presence in Gaza even after the conflict subsides.
Al-Hayya hinted that Hamas would retaliate against Israeli or any other forces that might be stationed near the floating pier. This floating pier is being hastily constructed by the U.S. to deliver aid by sea along Gaza’s coastline.
According to him, Israel’s efforts to eliminate Hamas would ultimately prove ineffective in preventing future armed uprisings by Palestinians.
He posed the question, “If Hamas is destroyed, does that mean the Palestinian people cease to exist?”
