Qatar, Egypt Push New Deal to Release All Hostages, But There is One Catch
Qatar and Egypt are pushing a plan to free all Gaza hostages and end the war, but a clause allowing Hamas to keep its weapons has sparked controversy and Israeli rejection. The proposal, aiming to establish a new Gaza government and prevent regional instability, faces steep challenges due to Hamas’s refusal to disarm.
Qatar and Egypt unveiled a contentious proposal to secure the release of all 49 hostages, living and deceased, held by Hamas in Gaza, aiming to end the ongoing war and facilitate a complete Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) withdrawal. The plan, supported by Gulf states, calls for a single-phase hostage release, a ceasefire, and the establishment of a temporary Arab-Palestinian government to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, effectively ending Hamas’s control over the territory. However, a highly controversial clause allows Hamas to retain its weapons, defying Israel’s core demand for full demilitarization. An Israeli official warned, “The gap between us and Hamas regarding the end of the war is vast, and therefore discussions about a comprehensive deal are futile at this stage.”
Hamas, not yet involved in the talks, is expected to reject disarmament, having stated, “The resistance and its weapons are a national and legal obligation as long as the occupation continues.” The group ties disarmament to achieving a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. The mediators’ proposal seeks to avert “regional instability” from a potential Israeli reoccupation of Gaza, two decades after its 2005 withdrawal. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized, “A ceasefire is critical to regional stability,” during a July 2025 Cairo summit. Yet, the weapons clause has sparked alarm, with critics arguing it risks emboldening Hamas, which has rejected five ceasefire proposals since January 2025, per Israeli Foreign Ministry data.
The conflict, ignited by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,189 and abducted 251, has led to 60,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Social media on X reflects deep concern, with one user stating, “Letting Hamas keep weapons is a recipe for disaster, Israel won’t budge.” With Israel planning a Gaza City offensive by October 7, 2025, the mediators face a narrowing window to reconcile the irreconcilable, as allowing Hamas to remain armed poses significant security risks for the region.