Hours after the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas took impact, a senior Hamas official stated that the militant group was prepared to start out a dialogue with the US, making a uncommon overture to a rustic that Hamas has lengthy excoriated for supporting Israel.
The feedback made by the official, Mousa Abu Marzouk, who relies in Qatar, recommend that a minimum of some senior members of Hamas hope it might probably interact straight with the incoming Trump administration despite the fact that the US has designated Hamas as a terrorist group since 1997.
Mr. Abu Marzouk’s remarks might also point out that Hamas feels buoyed by the cease-fire and believes there may very well be a possibility to increase the group’s worldwide relations.
“We’re ready for a dialogue with America and reaching understandings on every part,” Mr. Abu Marzouk, the primary chief of Hamas’s political workplace, stated in a telephone interview on Sunday.
Past the US, quite a few Western international locations additionally think about Hamas to be a terrorist group, together with Britain and Canada. However Hamas has made some efforts to enhance relations with Western governments, together with by issuing a coverage doc in 2017 that took extra average positions than its founding constitution. The doc known as the institution of a Palestinian state alongside the pre-1967 borders between Israel and the West Financial institution and Gaza a “method of nationwide consensus,” nevertheless it additionally rejected recognition of Israel.
The group has refused to resign violence and acknowledge Israel, and after the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, it was forcefully condemned by the US and European international locations. The assault, analysts say, was a mirrored image of the ascendancy of hard-line leaders within the group advocating for violent battle over long-term understandings with Israel.
President Trump, nonetheless, has beforehand demonstrated willingness to meet with longtime foes of the US corresponding to Kim Jong-un, the chief of North Korea.
Mr. Abu Marzouk, a local of Gaza and a former resident of Northern Virginia, is a member of Hamas’s political workplace, however it isn’t clear whether or not he speaks on behalf of all senior Hamas leaders, together with Mohammed Sinwar and Izzeldin al-Haddad, hard-line navy commanders in Gaza.
He’s thought-about to be one of many extra pragmatic voices in Hamas and leads Hamas’s international relations workplace. Different senior Hamas officers have invested extra in growing ties with members of the so-called axis of resistance, together with Iran, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Iraqi militias, and the Houthis in Yemen.
Mr. Abu Marzouk, 74, stated Hamas was additionally able to welcome an envoy from the Trump administration within the coastal enclave, regardless of longstanding American coverage to supply Israel with billions of {dollars} in weapons and defend it at worldwide establishments. Hamas, he added, would even present such a customer with safety.
“He can come and see the folks and attempt to perceive their emotions and needs in order that the American place may be based mostly on the pursuits of all of the events, and never just one get together,” he stated.
On Saturday, NBC Information reported that Steve Witkoff, Mr. Trump’s Center East envoy, was weighing a go to to Gaza to assist keep the cease-fire settlement, citing an nameless Trump transition official with direct information of the cease-fire course of.
The feedback by the Hamas chief had been in stark distinction to many Hamas statements through the first Trump administration that blasted the relocation of the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the popularity of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reducing off assist to Palestinians, and a peace plan that closely favored Israeli positions.
After the earlier Trump administration offered its plan, Hamas referred to it as “the deal of disgrace.”
One cause Hamas might need to attain out to the US is to safe the entry of supplies wanted to reconstruct Gaza with out situations that would undermine its capacity to stay essentially the most dominant Palestinian group within the territory.
Hamas will possible want to supply some compromises if it desires sufficient assist to rebuild Gaza to stream into the enclave. Till now, Hamas leaders have expressed readiness to surrender civilian governance in Gaza, however with out dismantling its navy wing — a dynamic that analysts have stated can be much like Hezbollah’s position in Lebanon earlier than its final battle with Israel.
Steven Cheung, Mr. Trump’s incoming White Home director of communications, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Mr. Abu Marzouk additionally provided excessive reward for Mr. Trump for his involvement in serving to dealer the cease-fire settlement between Israel and Hamas and known as him a “critical president.”
“If not for President Trump, his insistence on ending the battle, and his dispatching of a decisive consultant, the deal wouldn’t have occurred,” stated Mr. Abu Marzouk, referring to Mr. Witkoff.
Whereas the deal requires an eventual “cessation of navy operations and hostilities completely,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has repeatedly advised that the Israeli navy will resume attacking Hamas after some hostages held by militants are launched.
Alongside Qatar and Egypt, members of the Biden administration, together with White Home official Brett McGurk and C.I.A. director Invoice Burns, performed important roles in placing collectively the cease-fire deal. However Mr. Witkoff helped encourage Israel to approve it by telling Mr. Netanyahu that Mr. Trump wished it accomplished, based on officers briefed on the talks who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate delicate diplomacy.
Nonetheless, Mr. Abu Marzouk insisted Mr. Trump’s position was essential to getting the settlement throughout the end, particularly in making use of strain on Mr. Netanyahu.
“Honestly, Trump will get the credit score for ending the battle,” he stated.
