Hamas’ Desperate Plan: Will Hostages Be Smuggled Out of Gaza?

Israeli defense officials have raised alarms over a growing concern that senior Hamas leaders, frustrated by the deteriorating situation in Gaza, may attempt to flee the enclave with hostages in tow, according to a May 27, report. This scenario would severely complicate ongoing ceasefire negotiations, forcing Israel to negotiate with multiple factions rather than a single entity. The warning was conveyed to families of the 58 remaining hostages, 22 believed alive, highlighting the risk that increasing anarchy in Gaza could prompt Hamas commanders to break ranks, using captives as bargaining chips for future leverage. Defense sources also expressed fears that a collapse of Hamas’s control could see hostages fall into the hands of rogue armed militias, further endangering their safety.

Officials stressed the urgency of securing a deal, stating, “We must push for an agreement now before it’s too late.” The concern comes amid a proposed U.S.-brokered 60-day ceasefire, which Israel has tentatively approved but Hamas has yet to accept, citing a pro-Israel bias. The plan involves releasing 28 hostages 10 alive and 18 deceased in exchange for 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and 180 bodies, but Hamas fears losing leverage by complying early.

Retired Major General Eliezer Marom, former Navy commander, told Israel Radio on May 27 that eradicating Hamas entirely is unrealistic, given Gaza’s 2 million residents. “Hamas will persist in some form until the last Gazan,” he said, advocating for dismantling its military capabilities while building a reconstruction framework involving moderate Sunni states, the U.S., Israel, and Egypt, excluding Hamas. Marom noted Hamas has already relinquished governance, with local clans managing aid distribution. The IDF’s ongoing operations, including a recent strike killing three Hamas leaders, intensify pressure on the group, potentially driving desperate moves like hostage smuggling, as fears mount for the captives’ fate in Gaza’s chaos.