Bishara Bahbah, chairman of Arab-Americans for Peace and key backchannel interlocutor, stated that reaching a political resolution for post-war Gaza hinges on Hamas handing over its weaponry to a recognized Palestinian authority, backed by international and regional guarantees preventing the prosecution or targeting of its leaders and members.
Weapon Handover and Immunity Guarantees
Speaking in media statements, Bahbah explained that discussions regarding Hamas’s arsenal require transferring weapons to a mutually agreed-upon Palestinian entity within a structured political and security blueprint. He emphasized that solid immunity guarantees are an indispensable precondition for Hamas leadership to consider disarming or freezing military operations without risking retaliatory persecution.
Bahbah noted that providing these security guarantees forms the cornerstone of any sustainable post-war arrangement, ensuring that proposed governance frameworks for the Gaza Strip do not collapse under political or military friction.
Military Wing Influence in Khalil al-Hayya’s Election
Addressing internal Hamas dynamics, Bahbah disclosed information indicating that the election of Khalil al-Hayya as head of Hamas’s political bureau was carried out with direct support from the group’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades. He noted that the military wing’s backing underscores its decisive weight in selecting the new leadership and steering decision-making during critical negotiation phases.
Bahbah highlighted that Al-Hayya’s position, backed by military consensus, enables him to navigate upcoming negotiations regarding Gaza’s security architecture, administration, and political reconciliations with greater internal leverage.
Bishara Bahbah’s remarks underscore evolving backchannel proposals for post-war Gaza, positioning a conditional weapon handover coupled with leadership immunity as a primary formula for political transition and long-term stabilization.
