Hamas plans to use Iran, Lebanon negotiations to avoid disarmament, gain control of Gaza’s BoP
A security source warned that Hamas is taking advantage of Israeli attention to the Hezbollah situation and American attention to the Iranian front to buy time.
Hamas is using the instability created by the security situation in southern Lebanon and Iran to avoid advancing its disarmament compromises and gaining political strength in Gaza, a security establishment source warned on Wednesday.
According to the source, Hamas is taking advantage of the attention given by Israel to the situation of Hezbollah and that of the United States on the Iranian front to gain time and avoid any progress on the political front.
The Hamas leadership’s main strategy appears to be to collect taxes, recruit militants and take control of goods entering the Gaza Strip.
One of the sources added that Hamas is trying to give the impression of giving up power, but in practice, even if forced, it will aim to control the new rulers of the Gaza Strip from the shadows.
The security source said this reflects Hezbollah’s strategy during the Hassan Nasrallah era, when it did not take direct control of Lebanon but had the political and military power to operate without repercussions from the government.
Hamas terrorists gather during a public event in Khan Younis, Gaza, February 1, 2025. (credit: MOIZ SALHI/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
Hamas rejects Gaza Peace Council plan
Hamas has rejected the U.S.-led Peace Council’s plan to disarm the terrorist group and asked the council to make changes, a source told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
BoP senior representative Nickolay Mladenov and three other mediators were also present, the source added.
The BoP plan is expected to last between 6 and 8 months, and this duration serves the organization’s strategy of buying time, since the elections in Israel and the midterm elections in the United States will take place during this period, further diverting attention from the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, according to Walla, Most senior Hamas officials left Qatar for Turkey and other countries after receiving “signals” that they were advised to leave.
Qatari security forces have stepped up measures to prevent targeted killings, and Hamas has picked up on the clues as it fears similar actions by Israeli intelligence services.
Sam Halpern and Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
