No lasting ceasefire without breaking Hamas’s war machine

On Saturday, a Hamas official said the group was prepared to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a five-year truce with Israel. Hamas representatives are currently in Cairo for talks with Egyptian mediators.

While this proposal may sound like a breakthrough, it is unlikely to gain serious traction. Both Israel and Egypt are wary of any arrangement that would allow Hamas to regroup militarily during a prolonged ceasefire. A five-year truce would give Hamas — and Palestinian Islamic Jihad — ample time to rebuild their arsenals, strengthen their networks, and prepare for future rounds of violence.

The reality is clear: lasting peace in Gaza cannot be achieved without the full dismantling of Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s military capabilities. Any agreement that leaves these terrorist organizations intact risks only postponing the next war, not preventing it.

Both Israel and Egypt understand this. Neither is willing to accept a "pause" that would allow terrorist groups to rearm and regain strength. 

The only credible path forward includes the immediate release of all hostages, the disarmament and dismantling of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and the establishment of a new security framework for Gaza — one led by the Palestinian Authority with strong support from moderate Arab nations.

Stability in Gaza requires more than temporary truces. It demands a fundamental shift: the end of militant rule and the return of governance based on law, security, and the protection of civilian life. Without it, any ceasefire will be fragile — and the cycle of violence will continue.