In a potential shift in their long-standing position, officials from the Palestinian militant group Hamas have indicated that they would consider laying down their arms if an independent Palestinian state is established in the territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war. The messaging comes amidst Israel's intense bombardment of the Gaza Strip, the territory ruled by Hamas prior to the war.

Basem Naim, a member of Hamas' political bureau based in Istanbul, stated in an interview with CNN that the group would agree to disarm if a Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem and the right of return for refugees is realized. Naim mentioned the possibility of integrating Hamas' armed wing, Al Qassam, into a future national army under these conditions.

Historically, Hamas has rejected the two-state solution proposed by international actors in favor of establishing a Palestinian state encompassing all of historic Palestine, including Israel, the occupied West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem, and Gaza. Mustafa Barghouti, President of the Palestinian National Initiative, acknowledged the significance of Hamas potentially laying down their arms, suggesting that the occupation is the driving force behind Palestinian resistance.

However, Efraim Inbar, president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, dismissed Hamas' offer as a mere public relations move targeted at Western nations. He argued that Hamas aims to portray itself as the "good guys" in the conflict while branding Israel as the aggressor. Inbar also noted that Israel is likely to approach Hamas' gesture with skepticism, considering their previous clashes and ongoing threats.

The Netanyahu government, which has vowed to eliminate Hamas after it led an attack on Israel resulting in numerous casualties, is likely to remain cautious in its response. Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya conveyed the group's acceptance of a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as the return of Palestinian refugees according to international resolutions.

Al-Hayya also stated that Hamas would be willing to join the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to establish a unified government for Gaza and the West Bank. Previously, Hamas had refrained from joining the PLO, despite the peace agreements signed with it in the 1990s. Barghouti highlighted that Hamas indicated its willingness to accept a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders back in 2007, when it led a Palestinian national unity government.

Notably, Hamas' official position on these concessions remains unclear, and it is uncertain if the statements made by its officials abroad align with the views of its military wing on the ground in Gaza. While Israel has not achieved its goal of eliminating Hamas entirely, it has significantly diminished the group's military capabilities during the recent conflict.

In a recent development, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan revealed that Hamas expressed its readiness to function solely as a political party once a Palestinian state is established, based on discussions between the group and Turkish officials. Fidan called for Hamas to clearly express their stances on these matters.

Experts, however, anticipate that Israel will remain vigilant and view Hamas as a hostile entity, continuing to monitor and potentially conduct military operations to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its military infrastructure after the recent destruction.

Overall, these statements by Hamas officials indicate a potential softening of the group's position, signaling a willingness to give up armed struggle if the conditions for an independent Palestinian state are met. However, the true implications of these statements and their impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remain to be seen.