The news of Hamas’s acceptance of a peace plan is being hailed as a breakthrough, but a closer analysis reveals a conditional agreement that could also be a strategic trap. While the group agreed on Saturday to release hostages and accept a ceasefire, its caveats on long-term issues could prolong the political conflict indefinitely.
On the surface, the concessions are massive. Bowing to a deadline from Donald Trump, Hamas agreed to free all captives, accept a full Israeli withdrawal, and cede governance of Gaza to a technocratic body. These are tangible steps that could end the immediate bloodshed and suffering.
However, the trap may lie in what was left unsaid. Hamas’s statement explicitly separates these immediate steps from the final political settlement. The group insists that issues of Palestinian rights and the final status of Gaza must be addressed through a “comprehensive Palestinian national framework” and are tied to “international laws and resolutions.”
This could allow Hamas to achieve its short-term goals—ending the Israeli campaign and securing a withdrawal—while bogging down future negotiations in endless debates over international law and national consensus. It positions them to re-emerge politically after the dust settles, having sacrificed administrative control for strategic survival.
While Donald Trump has confidently declared it a breakthrough, other international observers remain cautious. The conditional nature of the acceptance means that while the war might be over, the struggle for a definitive and lasting peace has only just entered a new, more complex political phase.