A former adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran about a year ago, has publicly urged Hamas to admit defeat and end the war.
Speaking to the Arab news site Al-Hadath, the unnamed adviser declared: “You have lost. The hostages in your hands will not change the balance of power. Accept Trump’s initiative and end the war.”
Hamas, however, reiterated its unchanged conditions: it is willing to strike a comprehensive deal that includes releasing all hostages, but only in exchange for an agreed number of prisoners held by Israel, a full IDF withdrawal from Gaza, reopening border crossings for all supplies, and beginning reconstruction. This position mirrors Hamas’s long-standing demands, showing no real shift.
Israel’s defense minister dismissed Hamas’s statement as “empty words,” stressing that Hamas must either accept Israel’s terms—foremost the release of all hostages and disarmament—or face Gaza’s destruction, comparing its fate to Rafah and Beit Hanoun. He emphasized that the IDF is fully prepared for any scenario.