Arab nations condemn Hamas for first time, urge disarmament
Photo: Arab countries condemn Hamas for the first time and put forward a demand (Getty Images)
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and a number of other Arab states signed a declaration demanding the disarmament of Hamas and the cessation of its rule in the Gaza Strip, according to the New York Post.
Among the signatories are also France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and representatives of the EU.
The document was agreed upon at a UN conference dedicated to restoring the process of creating two states — Israel and Palestine.
In the declaration, it is stated that after the end of the war in Gaza, Hamas must transfer power and weapons to the Palestinian Authority with the support of the international community. This, according to the authors of the document, corresponds to the goal of creating a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.
The document also condemns the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which became the reason for the current war.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called the declaration "historic and unprecedented," emphasizing that for the first time, Arab countries and Middle Eastern states publicly condemned the actions of Hamas, called for its disarmament and exclusion from the governance of Gaza, and also declared their readiness to normalize relations with Israel.
Among the provisions of the declaration is the possibility of deploying an international stabilization mission in Gaza after the end of hostilities. Such a mission may be sent at the invitation of the Palestinian Authority, under a UN mandate.
It is noted that Israel and the United States did not participate in the conference.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas
Recently, US Senator Lindsey Graham stated that negotiations with Hamas have no prospects, as "they are religious Nazis who aim to destroy Israel."
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump stated that in view of the failure of negotiations, Israel will have to make a decision regarding further steps in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier, the Israeli government called Hamas’s conditions for the release of hostages unacceptable.
