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Why a Ceasefire with Hamas Is a Dangerous Illusion

Thousands of supporters of hostage families gather in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv as three hostages are returned to Israel. Photo: Paulina Patimer / Hostages Families Forum
The recently brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas offers a temporary halt to the violence, but fails to address the deeper issues sustaining the conflict.
While this “deal” may provide momentary relief for civilians caught in the crossfire, it does not tackle the underlying dynamics that perpetuate hostilities. Hamas’ history of extreme violence, combined with its ideological commitment to Israel’s destruction, makes a ceasefire not only insufficient but potentially harmful. For lasting peace, Hamas must be decisively dismantled.
Hamas has consistently pursued a strategy of violence to achieve its goals, treating diplomacy as an obstacle to its ideological objectives.
Unlike political entities that may embrace dialogue, Hamas is rooted in an uncompromising belief in armed resistance. This ideology is not merely rhetoric; it has been actively demonstrated through decades of attacks, including indiscriminate rocket fire, suicide bombings, and cross-border incursions targeting civilians.
The October 7 attack, the deadliest day in Israeli history, exemplifies the group’s brutality. It was not a spontaneous act, but a meticulously planned operation aimed at causing maximum casualties. Approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed, and hundreds were taken hostage. Such actions underscore Hamas’ willingness to disregard international norms and basic human decency.
These attacks are not isolated incidents. They form part of Hamas’ broader strategy to destabilize the region and undermine any prospects for peace. Its only goal is to eliminate the State of Israel and replace it with an Islamic theocracy. This extremist vision leaves little room for compromise, making any attempts at reconciliation futile.
Ceasefires may offer a temporary reprieve from violence, but history has shown that they often serve as strategic pauses for Hamas to regroup and rearm. Instead of marking progress toward peace, these pauses are used to build tunnels, replenish rocket supplies, and recruit new fighters. This cycle of violence ensures that every ceasefire is merely a prelude to the next escalation.
Moreover, ceasefires risk sending the wrong message. They can be perceived as a reward for violence, reinforcing Hamas’ belief that aggression yields political and strategic gains. This dynamic not only emboldens Hamas, but also undermines Israel’s efforts to secure long-term safety for its citizens. Without question, the horrible concessions Hamas has achieved by taking 250 Israelis hostages will lead them to take more Israeli hostages in the future.
The illusion of peace created by ceasefires can be especially dangerous for the international community, which may mistake temporary calm for genuine progress. Without a comprehensive plan to address Hamas’ capacity for violence, these agreements are little more than stopgap measures that leave the root problem intact.
The absence of a clear strategy for Gaza’s governance and security during ceasefire negotiations further complicates the situation, ensuring that tensions remain high.
Hamas’ violent ideology and actions are incompatible with the principles of coexistence and peace. As long as the group maintains its operational capabilities, the region will remain trapped in an endless cycle of bloodshed. Neutralizing Hamas is not just a matter of Israel’s security, but a necessity for broader regional stability.
Dismantling Hamas involves more than military operations, although these are an essential component. Israel and its allies must target the group’s leadership, weapon stockpiles, and financial networks. Precision strikes can degrade Hamas’ ability to launch attacks, but military measures alone cannot ensure lasting peace.
Politically, the international community must take a firm stance against Hamas, recognizing it as a terrorist organization that thrives on instability. Nations must cut off funding streams and pressure countries that provide sanctuary to Hamas leaders.
Economic development is another critical piece of the puzzle. Poverty and despair create fertile ground for extremism, and Hamas has exploited these conditions to garner support. By investing in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, the international community can provide opportunities that diminish the appeal of radical ideologies.
Additionally, countering Hamas’ propaganda machine is essential. The group relies on a narrative of victimhood and resistance to justify its actions. By promoting moderate voices, and exposing the devastating consequences of Hamas’ policies, a more balanced perspective can take root .
The international community has a crucial role to play in dismantling Hamas and fostering conditions for peace. It must move beyond the simplistic notion that ceasefires are sufficient to end the conflict. Instead, a long-term approach is needed — one that combines military action with diplomatic efforts and humanitarian aid.
Key players, including the United States, the European Union, and Arab states, must work together to isolate Hamas diplomatically and economically.
Neutralizing Hamas is not merely a military objective; it is a prerequisite for peace. By combining targeted operations with efforts to promote economic development and political reform, the region can move toward a future free from the grip of extremism. Only through decisive action can the cycle of violence be broken, paving the way for a brighter and more stable Middle East.
Amine Ayoub, a Middle East Forum fellow, is a policy analyst and writer based in Morocco
The post Why a Ceasefire with Hamas Is a Dangerous Illusion first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War

Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests

A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan

Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.