Hamas’s Concept of a Long-term Ceasefire: A Viable Alternative to Full Peace?

The research examines Hamas's proposal for a hudna, an extended ceasefire that differs from a final peace deal by allowing the postponement of the refugee right of return. Based on interviews with Hamas leaders in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, the study finds that while the hudna is tactical—serving as a means to an objective—it is grounded in Islamic and Arab traditions of conflict resolution (hudna followed by sulh, or reconciliation). The author notes that some Hamas members in Gaza are open to pragmatic compromises, such as land swaps, provided Israel withdraws to 1967 borders. However, the proposal faces challenges from salafi-jihadist groups in Lebanon and Gaza, as well as ideological opposition from other Palestinian factions like Islamic Jihad. Ultimately, the document argues that Hamas is serious about the hudna as a partial solution to establish a Palestinian state without requiring the formal recognition of Israel.

• Hamas distinguishes between 'tahdi'ah', a short-term unilateral suspension of violence without religious connotations, and 'hudna', which is a binding agreement involving additional elements and a form of recognition of the counterpart without implying their legitimacy.
• The hudna is viewed as a tactical tool rather than a strategic goal, but it is rooted in a tradition where a ceasefire (hudna) is a prerequisite phase for reconciliation (sulh), which often leads to a final peace agreement.
• A primary distinction between a hudna and a final peace deal is that a hudna allows Hamas to postpone the refugee issue and avoid recognizing Israel, as leaders feel they lack the legitimacy to decide the right of return on behalf of refugees.
• Hamas leaders in Gaza expressed flexibility regarding the implementation of the right of return and some openness to land swaps, provided there is a withdrawal to the 1967 borders.
• The proposed time frame for a hudna is often cited as 10 years, but this is viewed as a procedural detail; the broader goal is to establish a period of calm and let the next generation decide the permanent status of the conflict.
• In Lebanon, the hudna is viewed as a political liability by some Hamas leaders because it may be perceived as a concession to Israeli military power, potentially undermining Hamas's influence over salafi-jihadist groups in refugee camps like Ain al-Hilwe.
• Salafi-jihadist groups, such as Harakat Islamie Mujahida and Usbat al-Ansar, generally recognize the religious legitimacy of a hudna but oppose any version that postpones the refugee right of return.
• Within Hamas in Gaza, there is a tension between the political wing and the military wing (Qassam Brigades), with some military elements strongly opposing ceasefires and leaning toward salafi-jihadist ideology.
• Palestinian Islamic Jihad opposes the hudna on both tactical and ideological grounds, arguing that it implies recognition of Israel and that a hudna should only be entered into from a position of strength.
• Hamas's basic conditions for a hudna include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the West Bank and Gaza, evacuation of settlements, release of Palestinian prisoners, and recognition of the right to self-determination.

APA

Tuastad, D. (2010). Hamas’s Concept of a Long-term Ceasefire: A Viable Alternative to Full Peace? Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/5ea97a05-6a60-4d54-855e-11921fe7f42a/Tuastad 2010 Hamas Concept of a Long-term Ceasefire PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Tuastad, Dag. Hamas’s Concept of a Long-term Ceasefire: A Viable Alternative to Full Peace? Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2010. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/5ea97a05-6a60-4d54-855e-11921fe7f42a/Tuastad 2010 Hamas Concept of a Long-term Ceasefire PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Tuastad |first1=Dag |title=Hamas’s Concept of a Long-term Ceasefire: A Viable Alternative to Full Peace? |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=November 2010 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/5ea97a05-6a60-4d54-855e-11921fe7f42a/Tuastad 2010 Hamas Concept of a Long-term Ceasefire PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{tuastad2010hamass, author = {Tuastad, Dag}, title = {{Hamas’s Concept of a Long-term Ceasefire: A Viable Alternative to Full Peace?}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2010}, month = nov, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/5ea97a05-6a60-4d54-855e-11921fe7f42a/Tuastad 2010 Hamas Concept of a Long-term Ceasefire PRIO Paper.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }