Hamas’ Conditional Retreat from Destruction of Israel amidst Independent State Demands for Palestinians

The militant group Hamas has hinted at potentially abandoning its goal of destroying Israel if the Palestinians are granted an independent state in territories captured by Israel during the 1967 war, according to some senior officials. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau based in Istanbul, suggested that their armed wing Al Qassam could become integrated into the Palestinian army once an official sovereign country has been created. Previously, the group called for Jewish Israel’s removal and establishment instead for Palestine across all historic lands which currently include modern-day Israel, West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti suggested that Hamas’ demand to return Palestinian refugees to their former homes in what is now Israeli territory would pose an issue because it “amounts to the destruction of a state of Israel,” given Jews form a majority there currently. Efraim Inbar, president of Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, also criticised this proposal as being unrealistic since Hamas’ request contradicts previous peace agreements between Palestinians and Israeli leaders.
Hamas officials have not officially commented on the potential concessions suggested by their counterparts overseas. Nonetheless, Barghouti indicated that these views had been shared earlier during a Palestinian unity government in 2007 when Hamas led it. Naim also told CNN this stance was consistent with messages delivered since hostilities began between Israel and Gaza-based militants on May 10th.
The United States, along with other world leaders including Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, has called for the unconditional release of Hamas kidnap victims, whilst asking Palestinian leaders to implement deals in good faith instead since there appears no consensus reached amongst its political ranks presently – many still want a full-fledged Palestine. Inbar argued that these pleas may be used by Israel as an opportunity to gauge international support for their actions during the warfare but noted Hamas’ intentions are probably suspect and could, in his viewpoint, only represent a public relations exercise aimed at Western nations seeking favourable media coverage from global audiences who sympathise with Palestinians.
The Israeli government has vowed to eliminate Hamas after it led an attack on Israel last October that killed 1200 people and kidnapped another 250 in the process, whilst indirect talks to exchange its final detainees collapsed shortly afterward leaving humanitarian situations disjointed throughout Gaza where many millions of Palestinians live under Israeli military control.
As the Netanyahu administration tries eliminating Hamas’ power over these areas during Operation Guardian Wall it continues trying in vain – after a month into Israel’s invasion, no senior leaders from Hamas have been captured or killed by IDF forces despite repeated efforts to do so as part of their strategy against militant factions operating there.
Inbar also suggested that Israeli citizens view Hamas with hostility and want them defeated following the October 7th attack on Israel’s civilians, which has not changed since then; “We understand they will try again,” he said regarding rebuilding military infrastructure once it is destroyed by IDF forces during occasional operations to weaken their capabilities.