Eurasia Press & News
Since the publication of U.S. President Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza and begin a ceasefire, the Egyptian press has published many articles critical of Hamas. The articles urged the organization to take this opportunity to give up its weapons, end its armed struggle and transform into a legitimate political movement. The criticism of Hamas also intensified in light of its refusal to disarm and its mass executions of Gaza residents on allegations of collaboration with Israel.
The articles emphasized that Hamas’s continued possession of weapons and its armed and violent action threaten the entire region, harm the Palestinian cause, and sabotage both the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the political process toward establishing a Palestinian state. Some sharply condemned the movement’s recent executions of Gaza residents, arguing that it is behaving like an armed gang and acting recklessly – just as it did during the October 7 attack, which brought great disaster upon the Strip. They also claimed that, as a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is an enemy of the Egyptian regime, Hamas receives directives from Qatar and Turkey, acts out of ideological rather than national motives while exploiting the Palestinians for its purposes, and undermines Egypt’s role as a mediator.
It should be noted that next month an international conference on the reconstruction of Gaza is expected to be held in Cairo, where Egypt hopes to secure a significant economic role in the reconstruction. Any delay in the plan to end the fighting could also delay this process.
The following are translated excerpts from the Egyptian articles critical of Hamas.
Hamas Must Give Up Its Arms And Become A Political Party; Egypt Has Also Suffered From Hamas’s Terrorism
Egyptian journalists and commentators called on Hamas to seize the opportunity, now that the war has ended, to give up its weapons, renounce violence and become an exclusively political movement – a move that would help rebuild Gaza and even pave the way toward the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Veteran Egyptian journalist Karam Gabr wrote in his column in the government daily Akhbar Al-Yawm: “Hamas [now] has a golden opportunity to replace armed resistance with political struggle. Let [its] operatives remove their black masks, come into the light, surrender their weapons and condemn all [violent] action against civilians on both sides. [Then Hamas] can seek to be removed from the terror lists and operate under the umbrella of peace.
“Egypt [itself] has suffered from Hamas’s terror and plots. They threatened our borders and killed our sons. Now the violence must end, for the sake of Gaza and the Palestinian cause, and the opportunity must not be missed, for it will not come again.
“Hamas must arm itself with credibility and stop maneuvering, dragging its feet and hiding in tunnels. The entire world opposes its [continued] existence as an armed faction that threatens security and stability of the region and repeatedly undermines the [Palestinian] cause… The first step toward establishing a [Palestinian] state is [achieving] Palestinian unity, and forming a national authority capable of managing [this] difficult issue and imposing calm and stability in the Palestinian street…”[1]
Gamal Abu Al-Hassan, a columnist for the Egyptian daily Al-Masri Al-Yawm, likewise urged Hamas to surrender its weapons, and stressed that Gaza will not receive the funds needed for reconstruction as long as the movement remains in power there. He wrote: “Rebuilding [the Gaza Strip] requires enormous funds. The Egyptian reconstruction plan, which has now become an Arab and Islamic one adopted by the vast majority of countries around the world, estimates the required amount at 53 billion dollars. These funds will not be provided to Gaza as long as Hamas insists on [continuing to] perform its former role in the Strip. This simply will not happen.
“The reality is that Hamas will not remain the Hamas we know; it will certainly be weaker. When the dust of war settles and investigations begin, perhaps even demands of accountability [of those responsible for the war], support for Hamas among Gaza’s residents will fall significantly. The decisive factor in this equation is Hamas’s weapons. There are many political and security mechanisms through which Hamas can begin a process of relinquishing at least part of its arsenal, alongside a long-term political transformation [by which it will become] a different movement: one that poses less danger to Israel and to the Palestinian residents of the Strip. If Hamas fails to begin this process with the help and under the pressure of other players, the Strip will remain exposed to its greatest loss in modern history: its gradual emptying of its population.”[2]
Osama Saraya, formerly the editor of the government daily Al-Ahram and currently a columnist there, called on Hamas to work toward Palestinian unity as a step toward establishing a Palestinian state, and in effect to relinquish its rule. He wrote: “The Palestinians’ moment has arrived, and they must all seize it, not just the [Palestinian] Authority or just Hamas… The world has recognized Palestine, and all that remains is for the Palestinians [themselves] to recognize their state… It is time for Hamas to recognize the necessity of restoring Palestinian unity, after it came out against this unity in 2007 [when it took over Gaza]… Does Hamas understand that it must listen to the cries of the Palestinians and thank the Palestinian people who have stood fast for two years [of war]?…
“The second stage [of Trump’s plan to end the war] requires the consent and cooperation of all Palestinians, chiefly of Hamas. This movement must prove that it seeks a state, not power [for itself]. Therefore, the success of the second stage of Trump’s plan is up to Hamas. In light of the grim reality in Gaza, all parties must meet [the demands of the second stage] and act swiftly, in order to confront Netanyahu, the Israelis, and the [entire] world with their commitment to recognize the rights of the Palestinians. The Palestinians [must] demonstrate their unity and the unity of their institutions, and also prove that they are worthy of the right to self-determination and of the state that will soon [be established], Allah willing…”[3]
Egyptian Journalist: Hamas Is A Branch Of The Muslim Brotherhood That Receives Orders From Turkey And Qatar
Tharwat Al-Kherbawy, a former senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and a columnist for the Egyptian news portal Rose Al-Youssef, sharply criticized Hamas, which he said is an affiliate of the MB, claiming that Hamas exploits the Palestinian cause for its own purposes, even at the cost of the Palestinian people’s blood, and that the October 7 attack, which this organization describes as a heroic victory, led to a tremendous tragedy and diminished the possibility of ever establishing a Palestinian state.
He wrote: “…When Hamas was founded in the early 1980s [sic], ordinary people considered it to be a natural offshoot of the Palestinian resistance. But in practice it is an offshoot of the global MB more than it is an offshoot of the Palestinian revolution. It was founded on ideological loyalty [to the MB], which supersedes [its] national loyalty. From its perspective, Palestine is a ‘religious endowment of the MB,’ managed according to decisions made by leaders sitting in Doha or Istanbul…
“In the first hours and days [following the October 7 attack]… it seemed as though the Palestinian cause had suddenly regained its lost status… However, what appeared to be a short-term symbolic victory turned out to be the start of a prolonged and tragic disaster.
“Hamas exploited the initial shock to reassert itself as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinians, claiming a historical mandate without any referendum or consensus… In several Arab capitals, there were those who described it as a ‘victory of honor.’ But the reality on the ground was entirely different… The dream of a Palestinian state has become a mirage…
“Hamas pushed the people into disaster in the name of heroism, while ignoring the consequences of the Israeli response. It had no plan for protecting the civilians… Palestine does not need people to speak in its name on television channels. It needs people to build its future on the ground…”[4]
Instead Of Caring For Its People, Hamas Executes Them, Acts Like A Gang And Continues To Employ Uncalculated Considerations
Dandrawi Al-Hawary, acting editor-in-chief of the Egyptian daily Al-Yawm Al-Sabi’, accused Hamas of behaving like a gang rather than a responsible political organization concerned for its people. He wrote: “Instead of taking the opportunity to catch its breath, reorganize and do everything possible to prove its commitment to the ceasefire, so as to protect its people, preserve lives and improve its tarnished image, Hamas has only reinforced that image by executing Palestinians in the streets without trial. Regrettably, it has not changed its behavior or rebranded itself as a political organization that embraces the idea of a struggle to liberate its land, shows restraint in Gaza, acts swiftly to protect its people and apologizes to them. Instead, it presented itself as an armed militia that is above the law and behaves like a gang. As a result, the internal schism grew deeper, and Israel is exploiting this to its advantage… My sincere advice to Hamas and its members is that they embrace their people, tend to their wounds and pain, rebuild their homes and send them messages of hope, security and stability [instead of] turning them into human shields and seeking spoils amid the ruins.”[5]
Egyptian media figure Abdel Latif Al-Menawy emphasized that the executions carried out by Hamas against Gaza residents show that the movement continues to act recklessly and without calculation, just as it did on October 7. He wrote: “Anyone following Hamas’s recent actions understands that the movement wants to stress that it is not just a military faction but also an executive and security authority that rules the devastated Strip as it pleases. It also wants to eliminate certain clans with which it has disputes, perhaps longstanding ones, including the Doghmush clan, which operates in the south [of the Strip] and has recently entered into open clashes with Hamas…
“In preparation for the post-war management phase, Hamas is seeking to impose its internal control [in Gaza] through violence, persecution and confrontations. In doing so, it continues to act out of uncalculated considerations, [just] as it did on October 7…”[6] [1] Akhbar Al-Yawm (Egypt), October 19, 2025.
[2] Al-Masri Al-Yawm (Egypt), October 20, 2025. [3] Al-Ahram (Egypt), October 26, 2025. [4] Rosaelyoussef.com, October 12, 2025. [5] Al-Yawm Al-Sabi’ (Egypt), October 21, 2025. [6] Al-Masri Al-Yawm (Egypt), October 20, 2025.
