Paris/Doha, October 13, 2025 – In a significant development amid the protracted Israel-Hamas conflict, Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, disclosed that Hamas has signaled a willingness to engage in discussions aimed at ensuring the group no longer poses a security threat to Israel. The revelation, shared in an exclusive interview with The New York Times published on Sunday, comes just days after the activation of the first phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which has brought a fragile halt to 24 months of intense hostilities.
Sheikh Mohammed, speaking candidly from Paris following a high-level meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and foreign ministers from several Arab and European nations, emphasized that negotiations on core sticking points—such as Hamas' extensive arsenal—were deliberately deferred to allow for the immediate priorities of hostage releases and humanitarian relief. "If we went for full-package negotiations, we wouldn’t have reached these results," he stated, underscoring the pragmatic approach adopted by mediators including Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
The ceasefire, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on October 8, 2025, marks the first major de-escalation since the war erupted on October 7, 2023, following Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel that killed 1,139 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages. Under the initial phase, which commenced on Friday, October 10, Hamas began releasing the remaining Israeli captives—estimated at 48, including both living individuals and bodies—in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention facilities. This exchange, facilitated through indirect talks in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh, also includes provisions for unrestricted humanitarian aid entry into Gaza, the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure like hospitals and bakeries, and a partial Israeli troop withdrawal from northern Gaza corridors.
Trump, who unveiled the comprehensive 20-point peace framework on September 29, 2025, hailed the agreement as a "historic breakthrough" during a White House address, crediting his administration's direct involvement alongside special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. "This is the beginning of lasting peace in the Middle East," Trump declared, adding that he plans to travel to Egypt for a formal signing ceremony to oversee the next steps. The plan's first phase is designed to last 60 days, during which mediators will address the thorny issues of Hamas' disarmament, Gaza's post-war governance, and the full Israeli disengagement from the enclave.
Hamas' Evolving Stance: Openness to Dialogue, but Divisions Persist
At the heart of Sheikh Mohammed's remarks is Hamas' unprecedented openness to future talks on neutralizing its military capabilities. "Hamas is actually open to having a discussion about how they won’t pose a threat to Israel," the Qatari leader affirmed, though he refrained from specifying timelines or modalities. This marks a subtle shift for the Islamist militant group, which has historically rebuffed outright disarmament demands, advocating instead for a Palestinian national dialogue to shape Gaza's future, including the fate of its weapons.
However, internal fissures within Hamas complicate the path forward. Sheikh Mohammed highlighted "serious disagreements" among its leadership: hardliners staunchly oppose relinquishing arms, viewing them as essential for resistance against Israeli occupation, while a pragmatic faction—bolstered by the depletion of leverage from hostage releases—sees value in concessions for reconstruction and survival. "Hamas has lost one of its most important leverage points against Israel by releasing its last hostages," the prime minister noted, a point echoed by analysts who argue the group's bargaining power has eroded amid Israel's military pressure and international isolation.
Hamas' exiled Gaza chief, Khalil al-Hayya, addressed the issue in a televised speech on October 9, reaffirming the group's commitment to a "permanent ceasefire" but insisting on guarantees for a complete Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction under Palestinian oversight. The organization submitted its list of desired Palestinian prisoner releases as part of the swap, signaling operational readiness for phase one, but phase two—encompassing disarmament and a new governing body excluding Hamas—remains contentious.
Israel's Firm Line: Diplomacy or Force
From Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained an uncompromising posture. In statements earlier this month and reiterated post-ceasefire, Netanyahu vowed that Hamas' disarmament and Gaza's demilitarization would occur "either through diplomacy or by force." "Either it will be achieved the easy way, or it will be achieved the hard way," he emphasized during a cabinet meeting on October 10, following parliamentary ratification of the deal. Netanyahu framed the agreement as a tactical victory, crediting Israel's operations in Gaza City—Hamas' last major stronghold—for compelling the militants to the table.
The Israeli leader's address on October 10 also tied the conflict to broader regional dynamics, declaring that "breaking the Iranian axis, of which Hamas is a central component," was a core achievement of the war. This rhetoric has drawn criticism from Palestinian advocates and some international observers, who accuse Israel of using the ceasefire as a prelude to indefinite control over Gaza. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, speaking to Fox News on October 9, echoed Netanyahu's optimism, stating that the hostage release within 72 hours would "bring the end to this war," provided Hamas adheres to disarmament timelines.
Yet, Netanyahu faces domestic pressures. Protests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, led by hostage families and peace activists, have intensified calls for a permanent end to hostilities, with demonstrators chanting "Bring them home now" outside his residence. Polls indicate his approval ratings remain low since the October 7 attacks, with many Israelis skeptical of any deal that doesn't eradicate Hamas entirely.
The Human Catastrophe: A Toll Beyond Measure
The ceasefire arrives against a backdrop of unimaginable devastation in Gaza, where Israeli military operations since October 2023 have claimed over 67,173 Palestinian lives, including more than 20,179 children—accounting for nearly 30% of the total. Gaza's Health Ministry, whose figures are deemed reliable by organizations like Human Rights Watch and the United Nations after decades of verification, reports that the true count likely exceeds this due to thousands buried under rubble and indirect deaths from disease and starvation. A peer-reviewed Lancet study published in January 2025 estimated traumatic injury deaths alone at over 64,260 by mid-2024, projecting totals surpassing 70,000 by October of that year, with women, children, and the elderly comprising 59.1% of victims.
The enclave, once home to 2.3 million people, is now largely uninhabitable. United Nations satellite analysis reveals that 78% of structures have been destroyed or damaged as of July 2025, with 92% of residential buildings and 88% of commercial facilities affected. Over 90% of the population has been displaced multiple times, facing acute famine in Gaza City as declared by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification in August 2025. The World Health Organization reports nearly 170,000 wounded, with over 40,000 suffering life-altering injuries, exacerbating a collapsed healthcare system where only a fraction of hospitals remain operational.
Environmental and agricultural ruin compounds the crisis: Towns like Khuza'a, once Gaza's breadbasket for wheat and citrus, have been obliterated between May and October 2025, leaving farmlands contaminated and irrigation systems destroyed. Aid agencies warn of long-term health epidemics from sewage overflows and unburied bodies, with UNICEF decrying the child death toll as a "growing stain on our collective conscience."
On the Israeli side, the war has claimed 466 soldiers' lives and wounded 2,951 since the ground invasion began on October 27, 2023, per military data. The psychological scars from the initial attacks and hostage ordeal persist, fueling public demands for accountability.
Mediators' Balancing Act: Key Challenges in Phase Two
Sheikh Mohammed identified the handover of Hamas' weapons as a pivotal "next stage" issue, noting a "marked difference" between transferring them to a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA)—currently led by President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank—or to an alternative entity, such as a multinational force. The ceasefire explicitly defers these matters, prioritizing the "quick completion of the hostage exchange" and aid flows, as both sides were "not ready for a comprehensive peace agreement."
Qatar's role as a neutral broker has been instrumental, despite tensions from an Israeli airstrike on Doha on September 9, 2025, targeting Hamas negotiators and killing a Qatari citizen—a move Netanyahu later apologized for. Egypt and the U.S. complemented these efforts, with joint delegations holding marathon sessions in Doha and Cairo. Arab states like Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have endorsed the framework, welcoming Trump's "sincere efforts" in a joint statement.
Phase two, slated to follow the 60-day pause, envisions a technocratic Palestinian governing body, a multinational peacekeeping force, and Hamas' full disarmament—potentially including exile for its leaders. U.S. Senate leaders, including Majority Leader John Thune and Sen. Lindsey Graham, expressed cautious optimism, stressing that "Hamas must completely disarm" for any lasting peace. Yet, experts warn of "serious disagreements" over withdrawal timelines and governance makeup, risking collapse if hardliners prevail.
Regional and Global Ripples
The deal has broader implications. Iran's influence wanes as Arab nations rally behind the U.S.-led initiative, countering Tehran's portrayal of Israel as the primary threat. In Syria, Qatar's diplomatic pivot toward the post-Assad administration under Hayat Tahrir al-Sham highlights shifting alliances. Globally, the UN Security Council is urged to adopt a binding resolution enforcing the truce, as called for by Sheikh Mohammed.
As celebrations erupted in Khan Younis and Nuseirat on October 9—with Palestinians waving flags amid rubble—joyous scenes contrasted with Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, where families embraced in tentative hope. For Gaza's survivors, the ceasefire offers respite, but true peace hinges on bridging the chasm between Hamas' pragmatists and Israel's hawks.
In Sheikh Mohammed's words, the priority remains "how to protect the people in Gaza." With phase one underway, the world watches whether this momentum endures or fractures under the weight of unresolved grievances.
