Israeli Newspaper: Hamas to Remain Dominant Force in Gaza Under Trump’s Plan
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth has reported that President Donald Trump’s roadmap for Gaza would preserve Hamas as the primary influential actor in the strip, even if a technocratic Palestinian government is formed and the group disarmed.
In an analysis by military affairs analyst Ron Ben Yishai, the newspaper stated that Hamas would be “the power that manages Gaza from behind the scenes.” Ben Yishai described the document released by the “Peace Council” as an ambiguous declaration rather than a binding agreement, leaving many fundamental issues unanswered, including the specific types of weapons Hamas must surrender and the oversight mechanisms.
He added that the plan would grant Hamas a status similar to Hezbollah in Lebanon, allowing it to maintain political and security influence through elements that could join a new police force. Furthermore, Hamas cadres would continue to manage governmental institutions from behind the scenes without assuming direct responsibility for administering the Gaza Strip.
The author noted that disagreements persist between Tel Aviv and Hamas regarding the timing of the Israeli army’s withdrawal from the “Yellow Line” and its linkage to the disarmament process. However, he believes this is not the core of the dispute; the fundamental problem is that the plan does not end Hamas’s influence within Gaza.
The analysis also highlighted a significant point in favor of Hamas: the dissolution of militias allied with the occupiers and their complete removal from the Gaza scene. The Israeli analyst believes the document offers political and spiritual achievements for Hamas, most notably the mention of a “reliable path” toward establishing a Palestinian state, which would allow Hamas to gradually rebuild its capabilities.
Ben Yishai concluded that as a result of this agreement, “Tel Aviv” would be the party making concessions through withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the cessation of military operations and assassinations, while Hamas would gain political and security achievements that strengthen its presence within the Gaza Strip.
