Long War Erodes Hamas' Support, Trump Pushes for Gaza Ceasefire | WPN World People News

After the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip appears to be on the horizon. A Palestinian official revealed on the 17th that negotiations between Israel and Hamas have entered a decisive stage, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reporting to the Israeli Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that there is consensus on an agreement regarding the release of hostages.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stated on the 16th that he hopes Israel and Hamas will reach an agreement before he takes office, or else "unpleasant things" will happen. His statements seem to have accelerated the ceasefire negotiations. According to BBC reports, the ceasefire talks, facilitated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, have resumed, with both sides seeking to end the 14-month conflict. A Palestinian official interviewed by BBC mentioned that the ceasefire would be implemented in three phases. First, Hamas would release the captured civilians and Israeli female soldiers within 45 days. Simultaneously, Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza City's center, the coastal highway, and the Rafah crossing. Then, Hamas would release the remaining hostages in exchange for Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza. Finally, the war would come to an end.

Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 17 years, has become incapable of governing under continuous Israeli attacks for the past 14 months. Even its supporters are angry with the group, hoping to end the war at any cost. A poll conducted in September by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah found that the satisfaction of Gaza residents with Hamas' performance dropped from 64% in June to 39%. Last week, Hamas began softening its negotiating stance, no longer insisting on Israel's complete cessation of the war and full withdrawal of its troops.

However, Gaza residents still harbor greater disdain for Israel, and some continue to hope that Hamas can maintain a prolonged insurgency to increase the cost of Israel's occupation of Gaza. Political analyst Ibrahim Al-Madhoun, who has close ties with Hamas, noted, "Although internal members of Hamas have publicly criticized and called for ending the war at any cost, it is simply a natural response to the suffering from a prolonged conflict." However, "once the war ends, many perspectives and viewpoints may change again."