Hamas between the necessities of transformation and the requirements of national partnership

Hamas stands at a pivotal juncture in Palestinian history—one that goes beyond the devastation of aggression and genocidal war on Gaza. This moment raises existential questions about continuity, Hamas’s role within the Palestinian national landscape, and the redefinition of national action amid significant shifts in regional and international conflict dynamics.

The al-Aqsa Flood operation delivered a profound shock to Israeli consciousness. This shock was exploited by the extreme Zionist right to justify a zero-sum war targeting the entire Palestinian population. At the same time, it laid bare the deep structural and political challenges threatening the Palestinian national project. These include a deepening political division that now transcends elite circles and touches the core of Palestinian society—fueled by the comprehensive nature of the war on Gaza and the geopolitical constraints that weigh heavily on grassroots movements.

Compounding this crisis is the institutional deterioration affecting Palestinian factions—possibly even preceding the weakening of official Palestinian institutions. This has led to the absence of a collective political vision capable of forging a unified national strategy that integrates both political efforts and resistance, thereby bridging the harmful divide between legitimacy and armed struggle.

The current events can no longer be framed simply as a war to uproot Hamas or a campaign to degrade its military capacity. The limitations of military means in shifting the broader conflict dynamics or in restraining Israeli aggression have become clear. These means have proven ineffective in halting Israeli efforts to force a decisive resolution that threatens to erase the Palestinian people and their cause.

Today, the war is increasingly used as a pretext to prolong hostilities and to implement Israeli plans to fragment Palestinian geography, dissolve demographic unity, and undermine national identity. This is especially evident in the manipulation of negotiations surrounding the prisoner exchange file, which has exposed Israel’s deceptive tactics.

Moreover, it is no longer acceptable to view this moment as “just another chapter” in a long-standing struggle. The immense human and political costs borne by the Palestinian people, combined with the absence of any clear end to the war, make this an unprecedented and defining moment. It demands a comprehensive national reassessment of all available strategies and tools.

From solo resistance to comprehensive national partnership

Experience has shown that while resistance is both legitimate and necessary, it cannot replace a comprehensive national project. Nor can it be effectively carried out outside the framework of national partnership or through unilateral decision-making. This principle applies equally to political processes dominated by a single faction that excludes other national forces.

What is required is a unified approach—one that addresses the complexity of the conflict across cultural, regional, and international dimensions. This demands full national partnership in decision-making, with careful consideration of regional realities, international contexts, and a precise assessment of the balance of power and resources.

Given its significant influence on the ground and its popular support, Hamas must embrace a multi-level strategic transformation that includes:

1) Transition to collective leadership

Hamas must shift from an individualistic resistance model to collective leadership within a unified national framework. This would re-establish Palestinian politics on a foundation of integration and partnership. Hamas should commit to national legitimacy, align with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), and contribute directly to policy formulation—either through its representation in the PLO’s Executive Committee or by supporting consensus-based figures in a transitional phase leading to democratic elections for the Palestinian National Council.

2) Political and organizational renewal

Hamas needs to reposition itself politically through a balanced foreign policy that enhances regional relationships based on constructive neutrality. This includes a commitment to Arab national security in service of the Palestinian cause and a clear rejection of external dependency.

3) Adoption of international law

International law should serve as the political reference point for advancing Palestinian national interests. This principle was clearly stated in Hamas’s 2017 political document, which endorsed an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital and the right of return for Palestinian refugees. This represents the minimum consensus among Palestinians and identifies Israeli occupation as the fundamental obstacle to peace.

4) Transparency and accountability

Hamas must adopt a more transparent and participatory political approach and demonstrate readiness to take responsibility for any past misjudgments or unintended violations.

The continued depletion of Palestinian resilience in a prolonged, aimless struggle—with no political horizon in sight—risks weakening the Palestinian cause both regionally and globally. This diminishes opportunities for real national achievements, especially amid the growing danger of regional and international escalation and foreign efforts to shape Gaza’s future while sidelining Palestinian national decision-making.

This reality necessitates an expansion of resistance tools, strengthening Palestinian influence in regional and international arenas, enhancing institutional capacity, and diversifying resistance methods to include popular, legal, and diplomatic strategies. It also calls for internationalizing the issue of Gaza and maintaining political and media pressure.

At the same time, it is essential to activate political confrontation with the occupation through a comprehensive national approach that builds momentum, limits losses, and revitalizes the Palestinian national project at this critical juncture.

Options and pathways for exiting the war

In light of these challenges, four interconnected pathways can help Hamas—and the broader Palestinian national movement—navigate a path out of the current war and toward a renewed national horizon:

1) Initiate an inclusive, unconditional national dialogue

All national and Islamic forces must be brought together in a dialogue that transcends factional divides. The goal is to build a new national consensus, which includes:

— Developing an immediate, unified Palestinian plan to end the unilateral war.

— Addressing the challenges of “the day after” with cohesive national responses.

— Considering initiatives such as Beijing’s proposed emergency technocratic government or the societal support committee proposals discussed in Cairo.

— Preceding these steps with a declaration from Hamas withdrawing from Gaza’s administrative responsibilities.

— Agreeing on the nature and mechanisms of the Palestinian national project, explicitly defining the role of armed resistance as supportive—an integral part, but not a political alternative.

2) Empower the PLO as the sole negotiating body

The PLO should be reaffirmed as the sole legitimate and comprehensive political framework for Palestinians. It must lead negotiations with a clear vision that demands:

— An immediate end to the war.

— Lifting the blockade on Gaza.

—A permanent ceasefire.

— International guarantees for reconstruction.

—A genuine political process based on the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people.

3) Engage regional and international efforts

Hamas and the broader Palestinian leadership should engage with regional and international efforts aimed at halting the war. These include:

— Rejection of displacement plans proposed under the Trump administration.

— Active participation in the Egyptian-Arab initiative.

— Alignment with Saudi-led international coalitions supporting the two-state solution.

— Engagement with the Arab-Islamic summit’s seven-member committee to ensure Palestinians have a unified, balanced, and internationally supported negotiating position.

Ultimately, this moment allows no room for hesitation or political maneuvering. It either becomes a turning point for a meaningful transformation of the Palestinian national project—rebuilt from the wounded heart of Gaza—or it will perpetuate the flawed structures that have led to the current impasse.

Given its field strength and political capacity, Hamas now faces a historic opportunity to redefine its role—not just as a resistance group, but as a vital part of a collective national leadership committed to achieving the historical and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.