Hamas is shifting its focus from armed struggle to diplomacy as its future in Gaza hangs in the balance. The Islamist militant group has agreed to a cease-fire with Israel, marking a significant shift in tactics.
The deal came after both sides made concessions to internal and external pressures. Israel’s decision to pull back its forces was influenced by President-Elect Donald Trump’s pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as intense public demands to rescue hostages.
Hamas, however, has accepted more substantial losses. The group now acknowledges that many of its key cadres will remain in Israeli prisons indefinitely. This marks a significant decline from the October 7, 2023, massacre, when Hamas’s battalions were largely destroyed. Today, the group relies on hit-and-run tactics and improvised explosive devices.
The top tier of Hamas’s military leadership has been eliminated, leaving only two junior commanders: Ezz al-Din Hadad in the north and Mohamed Sinwar, brother of the October 7 attack’s mastermind Yahya Sinwar, in the south. This shift suggests that Hamas is no longer a formidable opponent, leaving diplomacy as its last resort for survival in Gaza.
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/01/hamas-gaza-cease-fire/681372