Under Pressure: Senior Hamas Officials in Qatar Ordered to Disarm Amid Ceasefire Push
Jerusalem – Senior Hamas leaders based in Qatar have reportedly been instructed to lay down their personal weapons in a move that sources describe as part of growing U.S.-led pressure to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a report by The Times of London.
The development signals a potential shift in the group’s posture amid increasing diplomatic momentum and heightened security concerns for its leadership.
Among those reportedly ordered to disarm are high-ranking figures central to Hamas’s military, financial, and diplomatic operations:
Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’s negotiating delegation,
Zaher Jabarin, the group’s chief financier, and
Muhammad Ismail Darwish, head of the religious council and liaison to Turkey and Iran.
According to Israeli media outlet Ynet, al-Hayya, who has been a key figure in hostage negotiations, has become acutely concerned for his safety since Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly named him as the next assassination target.
These fears have reportedly influenced al-Hayya’s stance at the negotiation table. Insiders say he has now expressed openness to the latest ceasefire draft and is no longer opposing a temporary truce—a marked departure from earlier Hamas demands for a total end to the war before any hostage release.
Qatar’s reported demand that al-Hayya and his security team surrender their weapons has further deepened his sense of vulnerability. Analysts suggest that this disarmament may improve the chances of Hamas accepting the proposed ceasefire, which includes phased hostage releases in exchange for a halt in hostilities.
Israeli officials have expressed cautious optimism. “There is cause for hope,” a senior official in Jerusalem said, echoing similar sentiments from international diplomats who believe that a resolution may finally be within reach.
“There’s a big opportunity right now,” one diplomat briefed on the negotiations told the Associated Press. “The signals we’re getting show that people are ready.”
The diplomat added that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent sharp criticism of Israel has inadvertently emboldened Hamas by suggesting that Washington may now act as a more assertive guarantor in any future deal—something Hamas has long demanded.
Meanwhile, sources close to Hamas told Saudi daily Al Akhbar that the group was “satisfied” with new language added to the ceasefire proposal. The updated version reportedly includes stronger guarantees to end the war—an essential condition for Hamas to accept any deal.
A formal response from Hamas is expected by Friday. However, the nature and scope of American guarantees remain undisclosed.
Israeli officials have downplayed the significance of these foreign assurances.
“Israel is not bound by commitments made by the United States or any mediator,” one official stated.
