Why Hamas Won’t Take the Money and Flee Gaza

British journalist David Hearst argues that Hamas will not surrender to the Israeli occupation—not out of pride or self-interest, but because the entire Palestinian cause is at stake. Writing for Middle East Eye, Hearst dismantles the illusion that Hamas would abandon Gaza in exchange for money or exile, noting that such assumptions reveal Netanyahu’s deep misreading of his enemy.

“Like October 7 changed Israel forever,” Hearst writes, “the war on Gaza has changed Palestine forever.” Gaza has become a sacred battleground in the eyes of Palestinians and global supporters of justice.

Gaza: A Collective Battlefield

The scale of suffering inflicted on Palestinians makes Hamas’s fate inseparable from that of Palestine itself. Whether Gaza is described as the world’s largest open-air prison, a killing field, or an endless wound, the truth is grim. And yet, contrary to Israeli expectations, Hamas will not surrender.

The idea that Hamas leaders will accept a deal, take the cash, and flee—as some Fatah leaders once did—is, according to Hearst, detached from the reality of this war. Eighteen months of siege, starvation, and bombardment have only strengthened the movement’s resolve.

Hamas’s response to Israeli proposals—which include trading hostages for 45 days of food and water followed by disarmament—was a firm refusal. Instead, Hamas offered to release all captives in exchange for:

• • Palestinian prisoners,

• • a long-term ceasefire,

• • and withdrawal of Israeli forces,

• • but crucially, without surrendering arms or ceding control of Gaza unconditionally.

Netanyahu: The Saboteur of Peace

Hearst asserts that Netanyahu himself is the greatest obstacle to a negotiated solution. He has repeatedly signed and broken deals with Hamas. In one notable case, Israel halted negotiations just as progress was being made—reportedly to avoid political collapse at home.

In fact, Netanyahu’s return to war came after narrowly avoiding defeat in a budget vote. Military goals had already failed. Israel then turned to food and aid as weapons, bombing warehouses and denying supplies in a campaign of starvation.

Even former Trump envoy Adam Boehler acknowledged that Hamas nearly finalized a direct deal with the U.S.—until Netanyahu sabotaged it by leaking details to the press.

No Capitulation, No Exit

Despite the devastation of leadership, police, hospitals, and neighborhoods, Hamas has not accepted exile. Unlike Yasser Arafat in 1982 or exiled Fatah leaders, Hamas remains rooted in Gaza, drawing its strength from the shared suffering and steadfastness of its people.

“Gaza is now a sacred symbol,” writes Hearst. “No Palestinian family is untouched by loss.”

Hamas’s connection to the people it defends makes surrender unthinkable. Gaza’s tragedy has created a unified will to survive and resist, deepening not weakening national identity.

A Religious and Strategic Commitment

As a religious movement, Hamas’s discipline and sacrifice are different from secular Palestinian factions. Its fighters, like 23-year-old martyr Rifaat Badwan, continue to pray, repent, and resist until their last breath. Even those unaffiliated with the group express spiritual resistance as they die.

This collective religiosity fuels endurance. Hamas has also remained largely free of corruption, due to its ideological foundations.

Strategically, Hamas believes it has already succeeded in restoring Palestine to the top of the global human rights agenda. Even in the U.S., public perception has shifted:

• • A Pew study found that 53% of American adults now view Israel negatively, a 9% increase since October 7.

While Israel loses the information war, especially in Europe, Hamas gains sympathy even in countries that classify it as a terrorist group.

The Broader Picture: A Failing Occupation

Hearst argues that Israel’s ambition to dominate the region indefinitely is collapsing. The occupation is no longer sustainable. Gaza’s resistance is emboldening other regional players, while European countries edge closer to recognising a Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, Trump’s envoys are trying to juggle three sets of negotiations, including:

1. 1. Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal,

1. 1. Iranian nuclear talks,

1. 1. and broader regional normalization efforts.

Yet these are interlinked—many of the Arab states resisting Gaza’s displacement are also key players in the Iran talks. Egypt and Israel are publicly clashing over Sinai, and Trump is pressuring for results fast, while Netanyahu drags Israel deeper into a no-win war.

Conclusion: Gaza Is Palestine

To surrender Gaza is to surrender Palestine. Hamas understands this. Netanyahu’s continued military campaign only deepens the rift between Israel and the global community.

As Hearst concludes:

“Once the myth of Israeli invincibility is shattered—as it was on October 7—it never returns.”

The resistance may not win every battle, but the war over Palestinian identity, dignity, and survival is far from over.

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