GAZA – Hamas has informed mediators that it is ready to freeze all offensive operations against Israel from Gaza for up to a decade. Hamas is also ready to bury its weapons if Israeli forces completely withdraw from the enclave.
This was revealed by a senior Palestinian official familiar with the discussions to Middle East Eye. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, said the offer was presented to Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators in Cairo last week. The offer was what he described as a substantive step by Hamas aimed at providing momentum for the next phase of ceasefire negotiations.
“The proposal is clear,” the official said. “Hamas is offering a guarantee that no weapons will be fired from Gaza against Israel, and they will do so by burying the weapons. Hamas is offering to establish a hudna (a term used in Islamic tradition to describe a long-term ceasefire) for seven to ten years between Gaza and Israel, and Hamas will not use the weapons.” According to the official, the hudna will be guaranteed by mediators, who will act as guarantors of compliance.
He said the weapons would be hidden, and mediators would directly monitor Hamas’s commitments. “During this period, Gaza will be busy with itself,” the official said, referring to reconstruction and internal governance after more than two years of devastating war, displacement, and siege.
Hamas has refused to surrender its weapons unless under the authority of the democratically elected leadership of a fully sovereign Palestinian state. The movement has repeatedly stated that its armed campaign against Israel will only end after the occupation of Palestinian land ends.
However, the new offer specifically concerns Gaza and does not address Hamas’s military capacity or political activities in the occupied West Bank, where Israel continues to launch near-daily attacks despite a ceasefire in Gaza. The senior official emphasized that the offer was also shaped by changes in the regional diplomatic landscape, and singled out Egypt for what he described as Cairo’s shift in position toward the needs of Palestinians in Gaza. Egypt, he said, recently asserted that the Rafah crossing must allow movement in both directions, including the return of displaced Palestinians.
Israel, on the other hand, only allows departures from Gaza and has blocked thousands from returning to their homes in the northern and central Gaza Strip. “The mediators have restored relations with Hamas,” the official said. “Hamas has made progress in mediation and made many positive steps. The movement believes in a pragmatic approach to reaching a common position.”
Ceasefire at a Critical Stage
At the Doha Forum on Saturday, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said the ceasefire had entered a “critical stage,” stressing that reopening Rafah in both directions was crucial to stabilizing Gaza. “The ceasefire cannot be finalized unless there is a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces,” he said, adding that people “must be able to enter and exit,” which is still not possible under the current conditions.
Since accepting a ceasefire in October, Israeli airstrikes and drone attacks have remained frequent. According to the Palestinian Authority, more than 600 violations have been documented since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, with Israel killing 360 people and injuring more than 900. Israel has released thousands of Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire framework, but continues to detain senior figures from all major factions.
Some are reportedly being held under conditions described by human rights groups as starvation-level diets, imposed by the right-wing national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir. The senior Palestinian official defended Hamas’s decision to enter the ceasefire despite its shortcomings. He said Israeli forces remained along what they call the “yellow line,” meaning Israel still occupies about 53% of the Gaza Strip, including some of its most productive agricultural land.
“Of course, Hamas considers the agreement unfavorable. But its main priority is to end the war. Trump offered to guarantee an end to the war, so Hamas accepted it,” the official said. “However, there are still many aspects of the agreement that Hamas does not accept, and this is now the subject of internal dialogue among Palestinian factions. The movement’s strategy is to end the war and then address other issues,” he explained.
When asked how long Hamas would tolerate Israeli ceasefire violations before responding militarily, the official acknowledged the ceasefire was at a “very difficult stage.” “Things are very bad, but our strategy is to save our people. These days are difficult, but they are just one moment in a long struggle,” he explained. “Israel will not back down just because of Trump’s demands,” he continued. “We believe Hamas and its people can create conditions that will force Israel to respect and recognize the demands and rights of our people. The problem is not just Gaza. Israel’s strategy is to dominate the region.”
