Could Hamas Be Exiled?

Excerpt

Israel has two objectives in Gaza, and they haven’t changed since 10/7. One is the destruction of Hamas. The other is the return of all the remaining hostages. Thus far, Israel has largely achieved its first objective. Hamas is losing the war. However, despite significant achievements on the battlefield, Israel has failed to achieve its second objective.

Israel’s leaders understand that it may be impossible to secure the release of the hostages without some kind of compromise. Hamas’s remaining leaders understand that, within the current dynamic, the group has little hope for survival. Amidst the frantic US efforts to secure a ceasefire, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has issued demands for a deal that would keep him alive, regardless of the other terms.

Jonathan Schanzer is senior vice president for research at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C. Follow him on X @JSchanzer. Emily Bornstein is an intern in Middle East Research at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.