Hamas Insists on Armed Status in Exchange for Establishment of Palestinian State
The United States has proposed a plan to end the long-standing Gaza conflict and bring all hostages home. According to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, this plan is aimed at achieving a comprehensive resolution to the crisis.
The plan, which is currently in the works, follows a ceasefire framework agreed upon in January 2025, following the Biden administration's May 2024 proposal. The plan outlines a phased approach, starting with a six-week ceasefire, humanitarian efforts, and partial Israeli withdrawal. This would be followed by negotiations for a permanent end to the war and full Israeli withdrawal, and finally, a multiyear reconstruction and governance phase, excluding Hamas rule.
However, the ceasefire negotiations have faced obstacles, including disputes over hostages, Israeli control of Gaza's borders, and the future role of Hamas. Hamas has set conditions for laying down its weapons, stating it will not disarm as long as Israel occupies Palestinian territories.
Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, has been accused of kidnapping more than 250 people from Israel and taking them to the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. This incident resulted in the death of around 1,200 people. The group requires the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital before it considers disarming.
International efforts to resolve the conflict have also been ongoing. In July 2025, an international UN-backed conference sought to build a framework addressing Hamas' disarmament, hostage release, Palestinian governance reform, and peace implementation, including a two-state solution. The conference's declaration envisioned a 15-month plan to establish a sovereign Palestine.
Meanwhile, US ceasefire talks with Hamas have stalled, with US officials blaming Hamas for stalling and calling on them to disarm and release hostages. Israel, on the other hand, is cautious about reoccupying Gaza due to risks of prolonged insurgency and unclear postwar governance, having ruled out a role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza.
Several Arab states, including Egypt and Qatar, have called for an end to Hamas' rule in the Gaza Strip at a UN conference in New York. The unconfirmed number of people killed in the besieged coastal region of Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled health authority, is over 60,000.
In Germany, two separate car accidents were reported. One occurred in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, causing slower traffic due to the quieter city, while another took place in Stuttgart-Feuerbach, resulting in two people being slightly injured in a car collision at an intersection.
As the US-led ceasefire plan continues to unfold, the complexities of the conflict remain, involving international mediation, stalled talks, and broader diplomatic efforts towards Palestinian statehood. The US and Israel agree that a framework for the release of all hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip is necessary, according to reports. However, the road to peace remains fraught with challenges.
The ongoing US-led ceasefire plan for the Gaza conflict encompasses discussions about hostages, including those held by Hamas, as well as the disarmament of the group. This plan is part of a broader diplomatic effort towards achieving a peaceful resolution to the crisis, which involves international mediation and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
Political negotiations, centered around the disarmament of Hamas and the release of hostages, are crucial elements in the comprehensive resolution proposed by the United States to end the long-standing Gaza conflict. These are components of the larger diplomatic initiative that also includes the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state and a peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine.
