Wissam Abu Shamala, official spokesman for Hamas’ Refugee Affairs Department, September 22, 2026, has published a new article in the opinion section of Al Mayadeen. I have translated the article in full, linked in the comments; and partially excerpted below: ‘The United States went to war with Iran without coordinating with its regional allies, except for "Israel." The Gulf states have simply footed the steep bill. They remain fearful of where the war is heading and uncertain about their own fate. Complicating matters further is an unpredictable American president who lacks a strategy and relies on instinct when making fateful decisions. He shows little respect for his allies and treats them with condescension. He is indifferent even to their fate and their interests. As a result, trust between the United States and its regional allies has eroded, particularly with the oil-rich Gulf states. The Iranian side, by contrast, appears more self-assured and better attuned to its enemy and rivals. It is handling both the military and diplomatic fronts with considerable professionalism. The United States and its allies hold a wide advantage in military power over Iran and its allies. Even so, the Iranian camp enjoys greater coordination, trust, and respect than the American alliance. Have Trump and his team taken stock of the regional landscape of alliances and the decline in American power? Have they grasped the serious strategic consequences for the United States as a superpower? If so, that would explain their efforts to repair America's position. Those efforts would begin with putting relations with allies in order to restore trust. They would also involve agreeing on courses of action for the next phase. Regional states would thus become partners in shaping the vision and in bearing its costs and commitments. That would hold whether the path leads to full-scale escalation or a complete agreement. If this is indeed how Washington reads the current conflict, Tuesday's meeting will set the nature and form of the confrontation, or the relationship, with Iran and its allies. Decisions about the day after would then be made jointly. If, however, Trump still disregards his allies, he will view the conflict solely through the lens of American interests. He will treat the allies as little more than bill-payers who follow U.S. directives. In that case, the meeting will serve only to lay the groundwork for a decision that may already have been made. It will also spell out what is expected of the attendees in the days ahead. Diplomatically, they may be asked to apply maximum pressure and relay warnings to Tehran. Economically, they may be asked to help pay for the war. Or they may simply be told to sit tight until after the midterms and to avoid unilateral steps. Reaching understandings with Iran without coordinating with Washington would be one such step. Then again, Trump relishes deception and misdirection. He may surprise everyone with a sweeping assault on Iran, possibly coupled with strikes on Yemen. Perhaps. Trump keeps his decisions close to his chest. He also has a taste for Hollywood-style theatrics, shaped by American action films.’