Trump’s peace plan for Gaza is blocked by the internal divisions of Hamas and above all by the opposition of Izz al-Din al Haddad, called “the ghost”, head of the qassam brigades. The release of the hostages and the destiny of the negotiation depends on him.
According to what reported by At Arabiyathe peace plan promoted by Donald Trump To end the Gaza War He is meeting resistance not only at regional level, but above all within Hamas. The organization appears split and unable to take on a definitive position, despite the strong pressures exerted by Washington and most of the Arab capital. In order not to lose the deadline set by the former US president, the main mediators – Qatar, Egypt And Türkiye – they have developed a bridge formula: Hamas It would declare an acceptance of the principle of the plan, referring to an international conference the discussion of details. The meeting, which should be held in the coming weeks, would involve the Gulf countries, Israel, United States, European representatives and the same Palestinian factions. On the American front the dossier was followed by the special envoy Steve Witkoff and from Jared Kushnerson -in -law of Trump and former architect of previous diplomatic initiatives in the region see the “Abraham agreements“
One of the main obstacles concerns the timing of the ceasefire. Hamas He claims that the stop to hostilities enters into force immediately after the announcement of adhesion to the principles of the plan, with the automatic suspension of Israeli operations. Israel rejects this condition and claims that the truce will only start after a formal consensus of all Palestinian factions. Only then would a three -day countdown start for the release of the hostages. Hamas He has already made the mediators know that three days will not be enough to contact all the groups who hold prisoners, also underlining the possibility that the Palestinian Islamic jihad – also in possession of hostages – can refuse to respect the agreement. It is no coincidence that the organization has already officially declared its own opposite to the plan.
The heaviest obstacle is represented by a man: Izz al-Din al Haddad, the commander of the Brigate Qassam in Gaza, known with the nickname of «the ghost». Almost legendary figure for militiamen, but difficult to trace for the services of intelligence, Al Haddad built his reputation on the field, guiding operating units in the urban fights of Khan Youunis And Rafah. After the killing of the brothers Sinwarhe took the military guide of the Army wing and consolidated a Ferrea leadership. Convinced that Trump’s plan is a “capestro” destined to disarm Hamas and cancel the Brigate Qassam, Al Haddad it opposes any hypothesis of compromise. Its position is of total refusal, with the determination to continue the armed struggle. And his influence is crucial: the return of the 48 hostages still depends on him in the hands of Hamasbetween living and dead. His negative decision could therefore make the entire negotiation derail. Originally from the neighborhood of Shuja’iyya, Al Haddad It comes from a poor and large family. Entering very young in the Qassam brigades, he distinguished himself for logistical skills and technical knowledge in the construction of explosive tunnels and devices. Over time he has close direct bonds with the Pasdaran Iraniani and with Hezbollah Lebanese, assuming the role of through by supplies of weapons and war technologies. The Israeli apparatuses describe him as a prudent, almost invisible commander, capable of moving through a dense underground tunnel networkie to maintain constant contact with his Operating cells. Hence the nickname of “ghost”, which emerged already in 2022 when, after an Israeli incursion to Gaza, it was given for dead only to reappear a few weeks after driving an attack with rockets against Ashkelon. The killing of the brothers Yahya And Mohammed Sinwar He projected him permanently to the command of the Qassam. Unlike Sinwar, with a strong political dimension, Al Haddad (below in the photo), appears as a pure man of arms: shy, radical, stubborn. For many analysts it is the incarnation of the hardest line, the one that refuses any negotiation if not subject to the continuation of the “armed resistance”.
Despite such resistances, regional mediators confide that Hamas It can offer an articulated response by the beginning of next week, probably a “conditioned acceptance” with requests for changes and clarifications. In this direction it mainly pushes the Türkiye, who changed the diplomatic balance with a double approach: on the one hand it encourages Hamas Not to close the door, on the other hand it insists why you accept the plan as the only viable way to stop the war. Even Qatar has abandoned the traditional neutrality posture (which we know be false since it is the main financier of Hamas), and has joined theEgypt in pressure on Hamas, in line with the commitments made with Washington. Neither of the two countries directly threatened the expulsion of the leaders of the movement in the event of refusal, but both suggest that they can use this card if the resistance were to stiffen.
On the American side, diplomatic sources reiterate that Trump Consider his plan as the only way to close the conflict. If Hamas he will reject him or ask for unacceptable changes for Israel, Washington It will fully support Israeli military operations. Some clauses are already being applied, as revealed by the newspaper Israel Hayom: Israel approved a list of hundreds of Palestines workersI who will take administrative positions in the new Government authority of Gaza, an integral part of the plan. Hamas It is therefore found in front of a crucial choice: on the one hand the risk of international isolation, on the other the opportunity to hook up to a negotiating process that sees more and more Arab states lined up in favor of Trump plan. The decisive variable remains the “ghost” of Gaza. If Izz al-Din al Haddad He will confirm his opposition, the entire negotiation risks jumping. If, on the other hand, he accepts, at least in part, to bend to the pressures of Qatar, Egypt And Türkiye, Hamas It could open the way to a historic turning point. But, at the moment, its hard line seems destined to weigh more than any diplomacy.
