Hamas Considers Proposal to Transform into a Political Party

Sources within the Hamas movement said on Wednesday that internal discussions had taken place over the past months in Gaza and abroad, addressing a review of the movement’s political future after the two-year-long ongoing war.

According to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, sources within the movement said that a number of leaders submitted a political paper proposing a gradual transition toward organized political work through the establishment of a political party, similar to the experiences of national Islamic parties in the region, allowing the movement to participate openly in Palestinian political, economic, and social life.

The paper, according to the newspaper, includes a call for comprehensive national reconciliation that could pave the way for Hamas’ participation in the Palestine Liberation Organization after its restructuring, achieving broader political partnership and balance in the Palestinian political system, in addition to strengthening communication channels with Arab and Islamic countries and the international community.

The sources clarified that the proposal does not include abandoning weapons, but comes within a broader review imposed by regional political shifts. Leaks cited by the newspaper indicate that the movement shows willingness to discuss the issue of its weapons within a comprehensive Palestinian national agreement, while affirming its rejection of any pressure or measures imposed by external parties.

According to sources within the movement, voices emerged during the discussions arguing that relying solely on military force is no longer sufficient to build the movement’s future, given the losses it has suffered during the war and the decline in its popularity in some areas. These voices called for adopting a more open political vision that takes regional developments into account and connects reconstruction, stability, and political settlement tracks.