Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement has urged its rival group, Hamas, to give up its control over Gaza in order to protect the future of Palestinians in the area. Fatah spokesperson Monther al-Hayek expressed the importance of Hamas showing “compassion for Gaza, its children, women and men.” He called on Hamas to “step aside from governing and fully recognize that the battle ahead will lead to the end of Palestinians’ existence” if it continues to hold power in the Gaza Strip.
In response, a Hamas spokesperson stated that the group is open to any proposal regarding the administration of Gaza that achieves mutual agreement. He emphasized that Hamas has “no aspiration to govern Gaza” but is focused on achieving “national consensus.”
Hamas’s refusal to give up control of Gaza and its resistance to disarmament have been central obstacles in the ongoing negotiations with Israel for a lasting ceasefire.
Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 through a violent coup, ousting the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, efforts to reconcile the two groups have been unsuccessful. The region has suffered severe damage due to an Israeli military operation following Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals.
When talks to extend the ceasefire from January broke down, Israel resumed airstrikes targeting Gaza-based terrorist positions on Tuesday, followed by ground operations on Wednesday. Hamas retaliated with rocket attacks on Israel on consecutive days. On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that parts of Gaza could be annexed unless Hamas releases the Israeli hostages captured during the October 7 assault. Terrorist groups in Gaza are currently holding 59 hostages, including 58 of those abducted during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, along with the remains of at least 35 confirmed dead, according to the IDF.
In mid-January, Israel and Hamas reached a temporary ceasefire deal, lasting 42 days, during which Hamas released 30 living hostages and the remains of eight deceased captives. In exchange, Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, though the deal’s first phase expired before all the terms were fully met. The agreement had initially envisioned a second phase aimed at achieving a permanent peace agreement, contingent upon the release of remaining hostages and additional Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel has rejected any long-term arrangement that would allow Hamas to remain in power in Gaza. Following Hamas’s refusal to extend the ceasefire, Netanyahu ordered the resumption of military operations in Gaza on Monday night, stating that future negotiations would be held “under fire.”
Hamas has insisted that the terms of the deal signed in January, which called for discussions on a second phase to begin in February, should be honored. However, Israel has largely refused to engage in these talks. Phase two of the deal proposed the release of all remaining living hostages in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, the end of the conflict, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. While Netanyahu agreed to the framework involving these terms, he has firmly stated that Israel will not leave Gaza until Hamas’s military and governance infrastructure has been completely dismantled.
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