Bishara Bahbah says Hamas proposes 10 year ceasefire and disarmament - interview

In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Palestinian-American scholar Dr. Bishara Bahbah said Hamas has proposed a 10-to-15-year ceasefire and full disarmament, including surrendering weapons and abandoning tunnels, in exchange for Israeli withdrawal. Bahbah delivered the proposal to the White House about three weeks ago. Israel has responded cautiously, and Bahbah stressed the importance of security guarantees for Hamas leadership.

In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Palestinian-American scholar and former mediator Dr. Bishara Bahbah said Hamas has presented a detailed demilitarization proposal to the Trump administration, marking what he called the group's most far-reaching offer to date. The proposal includes a 10-to-15-year ceasefire, surrendering all weapons, halting weapons manufacturing and smuggling, and abandoning Gaza's tunnel network, in exchange for a long-term ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal. Bahbah said he personally transferred the proposal to White House officials about three weeks ago. He acknowledged that Israel's initial response has been negative, with officials unconvinced Hamas will irreversibly dismantle its military infrastructure before an International Stabilization Force deploys. Bahbah also said Hamas faces pressure from other Palestinian factions, particularly allies of Mohammed Dahlan, to give up armed struggle to allow reconstruction. He identified security guarantees for Hamas leadership as a central but under-publicized issue, suggesting US guarantees could be key. Bahbah expressed hope that if Israel accepts verified disarmament, the war could end.