According to a Wall Street Journal report, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya initially rebuffed President Trump’s peace initiative, which would have required Hamas to disarm with few guarantees from Israel for an end to hostilities. The proposal reached Hamas through negotiators from Qatar and Egypt. Al-Hayya’s refusal shifted only after Egypt and Qatar warned him that this offer represented Hamas’ final opportunity for organizational survival.

Retaining Israeli hostages provided strategic legitimacy for Israel’s ongoing campaign, which persisted despite criticisms at home. Israel’s leadership demonstrated clear determination to pursue the Gaza City operation, even knowing that hostages were being used to impede military advances. This credible military threat, fused with mounting diplomatic pressure, compelled Hamas leadership to reconsider its position.

Regional mediators—Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt—changed their approach only after President Trump incentivized cooperation. Qatar received an executive order from the White House guaranteeing protection from future Israeli military action, effectively a quasi-Article Five security assurance, alongside permission for a new Qatari air force facility at a US military base in Idaho. 

Turkey may have been

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