Amnesty for Weapons – A New U.S. Proposal to Resolve the Hamas Issue
In a renewed effort to revive the peace process in Gaza, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has put forward an unprecedented initiative concerning Hamas’s arsenal.
The proposal offers Hamas fighters a “conditional amnesty” in exchange for surrendering their weapons to a third party, in an attempt to turn the Rafah tunnel crisis into a practical model for gradually disarming the movement.
This initiative, revealed by the news site “Axios” citing U.S. officials, comes as Washington seeks to consolidate the ceasefire.
The Rafah Tunnels: A Political Test
Two American officials familiar with the file said that the Trump administration viewed the situation of Hamas fighters trapped in Rafah’s tunnels as an opportunity to test a new disarmament approach based on persuasion rather than coercion.
They explained that convincing Hamas members to voluntarily hand over their weapons represents one of the most challenging aspects of Trump’s proposed peace plan for Gaza.
However, according to the report, Israel remains “deeply skeptical” of Hamas’s intentions, fearing that any such agreement could serve to entrench the group’s influence. The right-wing coalition within Benjamin Netanyahu’s government also opposes granting any form of amnesty to Hamas fighters.
Despite this, Trump has repeatedly stressed that Washington prefers a peaceful resolution to avoid renewed conflict, while warning that “those who refuse disarmament will bear the consequences.”
Details of the U.S. Proposal
According to sources, the U.S. plan includes the following provisions:
- Hamas fighters besieged in Rafah’s tunnels would surrender their weapons to a third party, such as Egypt, Qatar, or Turkey.
- Israel would grant them limited amnesty on the condition that they refrain from any future military activity.
- They would then be relocated to areas under Hamas control within Gaza after being fully disarmed.
- The tunnels they used would be destroyed to prevent future reuse.
American officials believe this initiative could serve as a “replicable model” for other areas in Gaza if it proves successful in Rafah.
Turkish Mediation and Israel’s Firm Stance
At Washington’s request, Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın joined mediation efforts and met in Istanbul with a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya.
A Turkish security source said the meeting focused on addressing ceasefire violations and implementing the next phases of the truce plan.
However, Israel’s position remains rigid. According to Axios, a senior Israeli official stated: “Some Hamas members in Rafah’s tunnels were involved in killings. It is impossible to grant them amnesty. They have only two options: death or surrender to be detained by the Israeli army.”
He added that Israel demands the return of the body of officer Hadar Goldin, held in Gaza for more than eleven years, before considering any “safe passage” arrangements for Hamas fighters.
A New Test for Washington and Trump
U.S. officials described the initiative as an attempt to ease tensions and gauge the flexibility of parties on the ground, noting that “the success of this test could form the foundation for a comprehensive plan to disarm Hamas in the future.”
One official said, “We want the Rafah crisis to serve as a preliminary test for a peaceful disarmament mechanism. The Israeli side remains inflexible, but negotiations continue.”
Another added, “Israel must act realistically. A tactical crisis should not undermine a strategic opportunity to achieve peace in Gaza.”
