Two-state plan seems elusive amid rising calls for Hamas surrender
By The Taurean
While Arab and European countries unite in demanding Hamas’s disarmament, the revival of the two-state solution appears increasingly unattainable, given Israel’s persistent expansionist policies
THE WORLDVIEW
Aug 4, 2025
DESPITE mounting international pressure on Hamas to disarm and relinquish control of Gaza, the premise behind these demands — the revival of a two-state solution to the Israeli question — remains fundamentally doubtful. Years of Israeli settlement expansion and territorial annexations have steadily eroded the basis on which a viable Palestinian state could be built.
The recent alignment between the Arab League, the European Union, and other international actors in condemning the attacks of 7th October 2023 and urging Hamas’s disarmament marks a notable diplomatic moment. However, this demand is inextricably tied to aspirations for a sovereign Palestinian state — a vision that clashes with prevailing realities on the ground.
The notion of Greater Israel — a long-held Zionist ambition to incorporate lands beyond the 1967 borders, particularly the West Bank — has never disappeared. Israeli settlements, increasingly entrenched and expanding under successive governments, including that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are a physical manifestation of this vision. These settlements fragment the West Bank, undermining the territorial integrity essential for Palestinian statehood and complicating peace negotiations.
The October 7 attacks by Hamas, though widely condemned, accelerated these dynamics. The violence provided Netanyahu’s government with justification to intensify military actions not only in Gaza but also against Hezbollah and Iran-aligned forces in Lebanon and Syria. This aggressive security posture further narrows the space for diplomatic compromise.
Israel’s unrelenting stance is reinforced by its enduring and bipartisan support within US politics. Almost every member of the US Congress is viewed as staunchly pro-Israel, a reality shaped by powerful lobbying entities such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Through campaign funding and influence on public discourse, these groups ensure unwavering American backing for Israeli policies. In such a political climate, Israeli leaders face little pressure to accommodate calls for Palestinian statehood — particularly when such aspirations run counter to domestic sentiments and strategic objectives.
In Palestinian politics, the consequences of foreign demands on Hamas are profound. The international community has called for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to retake control of Gaza, effectively requiring Hamas to disarm and cede governance. Canada, for instance, has linked its recognition of a Palestinian state (expected in September 2025) to major reforms within the PA and to general elections in 2026 that explicitly exclude Hamas.
While these measures aim to promote a unified, demilitarised Palestinian leadership, they risk alienating a substantial segment of the Palestinian population. The exclusion of Hamas from the political process raises questions about the internal legitimacy of any future Palestinian government.
Renewed efforts by key Arab and European countries towards Palestinian statehood have aroused widespread scepticism also because previous peace efforts — including the celebrated agreements signed by Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin, and Shimon Peres — failed to halt Israeli settlement activity or deliver a durable Palestinian state.
Israel’s current position of strength further complicates peace prospects. After being attacked on 7th October, it has conducted a series of successful military operations that have degraded the capabilities of Hamas, Hezbollah, and even targeted Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. Bolstered by superior military technology and unwavering American support, Israel faces no immediate security threat capable of compelling it to compromise. Instead, it continues to consolidate its regional dominance.
This strength emboldens Israeli resistance to international demands for Palestinian statehood and discourages any significant concessions. The notion of a demilitarised Palestinian entity governed by the PA — minus Hamas — may appeal to some in the West and the Arab world, but it overlooks the political complexities and deep-seated grievances among Palestinians.
As a result, despite the Arab League’s and European Union’s calls for an end to hostilities and a reconfiguration of Palestinian governance, the fundamental barriers to peace remain. Chief among them are Israel’s territorial ambitions and the exclusion of key Palestinian factions from any political settlement.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza — marked by starvation, displacement, and destruction — continues to draw global concern. Yet, unless these core political contradictions are confronted, the dream of a two-state solution will remain out of reach. With no meaningful shift in Israeli policy and little pressure from its allies, the future of both Palestinians and Israelis remains uncertain, locked in a cycle of conflict, frustration, and missed opportunities.