Hamas’s Weakening Opens a Narrow Path to Civilian Rule in Gaza
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian from Gaza, argues that the territory’s future depends on stripping Hamas of its capacity to govern, rearm and intimidate, allowing civilian leaders to replace armed rule. While holding Israel responsible for settlement expansion and policies that weakened Palestinian moderates, he says Palestinians must also confront Hamas’s role in Gaza’s destruction and build a politics around work, security and self-government. Alkhatib proposes a demilitarized Gaza run by nonpartisan technocrats and a 100-day halt to violence as a basis for direct Israeli-Palestinian engagement; host Russ Roberts questions whether Hamas would genuinely disarm.
Hoover Institution·Aug 31, 2026·16 min read
