Despite calls for Hamas to step down, its leaders vow to stay in Gaza

In an interview with the Saudi Al-Arabiya news channel on Feb. 11, Arab League Sec.-Gen. Ahmed Aboul Gheit urged the Hamas terrorist organization to relinquish control of the Gaza Strip.

Gheit even stated that the purpose of U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to take over control of the Gaza Strip was to provoke the Arab states into responding with a serious proposal of their own. 

Shortly after Gheit’s statement, Arab journalist Tariq Al-Homayed published an article in the Saudi daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat titled “Hamas Must Relinquish Power,” which supported Gheit. 

On Friday, Anwar Gargash, a senior diplomatic advisor to United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed, posted a note to 𝕏 supporting Gheit and calling for the terror group to “step down from the administration of Gaza.” 

“The rational call of Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, for Hamas to step down from the administration of Gaza is appropriate, as the interests of the Palestinian people must come before the interests of the movement, especially in light of the calls to displace Palestinians from Gaza, and the resulting war that destroyed the Strip and tore apart its human and social fabric as a result of its decisions,” Gargash posted in Arabic. 

الدعوة العقلانية للأخ أحمد أبو الغيط أمين عام الجامعة العربية بتنحي حماس عن إدارة غزة في محلها، فمصلحة الشعب الفلسطيني يجب أن تتقدم على مصلحة الحركة، خاصة في ظل الدعوات لتهجير الفلسطينيين من غزة، وما ترتب على قراراتها من حرب دمرت القطاع ومزقت نسيجه الإنساني والاجتماعي.

— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) February 14, 2025

On Saturday, Egyptian news site Al-Qahera [Cairo] News TV, citing an informed Egyptian source, reported that Hamas confirmed that it would not participate in the administration of the Gaza Strip during the next phase of the ceasefire agreement. 

Al-Qahera News channel quoted an Egyptian source familiar with the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza saying that “Hamas affirms its commitment to the three-phase ceasefire agreement, and its non-participation in the administration of the Gaza Strip during the next stage.” 

Hamas also confirmed its commitment to the three-stage ceasefire agreement, the source added.

Al-Qahera also reported that Egypt is in intensive contact to form an interim committee to oversee the relief and reconstruction of Gaza. Some Arab analysts see this as part of an attempt to create an alternative to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to evacuate the Gaza Strip and rebuild it as the “Middle East Riveria.” 

The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan will hold a summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this Thursday to discuss a united Arab response to Trump's plan to take control of the Gaza Strip and relocate its population. While Trump has emphasized relocating the Gazans to neighboring Egypt and Jordan, he has also spoken about the possibility of relocating them to other countries. 

Additionally, last Thursday, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Qatar-based Al Araby TV that the terror group will be ready to start negotiations for the second phase of the hostage-ceasefire agreement starting Monday. 

The agreement requires Hamas to step down from governing the Gaza Strip as part of the implementation of the second phase, and as a condition for moving to the third phase. 

Some Arab analysts have questioned whether Hamas' statements are just a maneuver aimed at circumventing Trump's plans. 

“Talk of Hamas' withdrawal from Gaza rule in the coming phase has raised questions about its seriousness, and whether it is a circumstantial maneuver to calm the anger of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, or whether what Hamas says is part of the plan presented by Egypt to later turn into a plan presented by the Arab Summit to Washington as an alternative to Trump's displacement plan,” wrote one analyst for UK-based news site Al-Arab (the Arab).  

However, while speaking at the Al Jazeera Forum on Saturday, Hamdan announced that Hamas would not give up Gaza, or leave under any agreements, nor would it make any concessions in exchange for reconstruction. 

It's official - Hamas wants war and pre-emptively rebukes Egypt and Arab proposals for Gaza. This video right here of Hamas's leader Osama Hamdan in Doha, Qatar, where the Aljazeera Forum is taking place, tells you everything you need to know about the terror group and why the… pic.twitter.com/VXjrtRRNBV

— Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib (@afalkhatib) February 16, 2025

Speaking during the session "The Middle East in the Face of New Balances" at the 16th Al Jazeera Forum, Hamdan said: "We have won and we have not been defeated, and we will not pay the price of the defeat that the occupation suffered under any circumstances.” 

Hamdan claimed that the Palestinian resistance in Gaza would not accept Hamas being excluded from the Palestinian project. 

Hamdan also appeared to threaten the United States and any Arab states participating in Trump’s proposal. 

“Listen to me carefully as I end this discussion,” Hamdan stated. “Anyone who replaces the occupation in Gaza or any city in Palestine will be dealt with only through resistance, just as we deal with the Israeli occupation. This matter is settled and non-negotiable.”