Disarmament and Hostage Release: The Major Stumbling Blocks in the Proposed Agreement to End the Gaza War

The prospects for a rapid deescalation of the conflict in Gaza have become significantly complicated by the reported objection of the most senior Hamas military commander still inside the territory. The BBC understands that Izz al Din al Haddad, the leader of the military wing in Gaza, is determined to reject the latest international proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release, signaling a profound internal division within the militant group and raising a major obstacle to the current peace efforts. This internal resistance from the operative commander on the ground clashes directly with the cautious, yet "positive," response offered by some of Hamas's political leadership based abroad, creating uncertainty about the group's final position on the deal backed by the United States and Israel.

The substance of the objection from al Haddad and his militant commanders centers on the proposal's most fundamental requirements, which they perceive as a demand for complete surrender rather than a balanced agreement. Foremost among their concerns is the plan's call for the disarmament of Hamas and the dismantling of its vast military infrastructure, including the tunnel networks. Militant leaders have openly stated they will not agree to give up their weapons, arguing that such a move would eliminate Palestinian resistance and serve only Israel's long term security goals. They also object strongly to the creation of an international stabilization force in Gaza, viewing it as simply a new form of foreign occupation that would legitimize an Israeli security presence.

The terms related to the hostage release also fuel the hardline objection. The plan demands the release of all remaining hostages immediately, or within a very short timeframe, in exchange for a large number of Palestinian prisoners. The military wing sees this immediate, wholesale release as an unacceptable forfeiture of their most critical bargaining chip, which they believe is their only leverage to secure a permanent cessation of hostilities and a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Without a firm, unambiguous guarantee that the war will end and all Israeli forces will leave, the field commanders are reluctant to give up the last element of control they possess. This fundamental lack of trust in Israel's long term intentions underpins the resistance to the internationally backed framework.

The diplomatic process, spearheaded by mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, now faces the challenge of reconciling the demands of the Hamas political bureau with the non negotiable position of the military command structure. President Donald Trump has issued a short deadline of only a few days for Hamas to provide a definitive response, placing immense pressure on the organization to bridge its internal rift. The objection from the commander on the ground suggests that the fighting in Gaza could continue for the foreseeable future, as the political leaders are forced to choose between the internal unity of the organization and the overwhelming external pressure to accept a deal that would bring a stop to the devastating war and allow for humanitarian aid and reconstruction to begin.