Arab nations urge Hamas to disarm, vacate Gaza territory
Arab Countries Urge Hamas to Disarm and Leave Gaza Strip
In a significant move towards peace and stability, Arab countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and others have called on Hamas to leave the Gaza Strip and hand over weapons to the Palestinian Authority[1][2][3]. This call was formalized at a United Nations conference focused on peace and stabilization.
The primary reason for this demand is to end the war and Hamas’s rule in Gaza. The signatories argue that Hamas must cease its governance and armed control of Gaza to pave the way for peace and stability. The declaration states that Hamas should disarm and transfer its military capabilities to the Palestinian Authority with international support [1][2].
Another key reason is to revive Palestinian unity. By handing over weapons and authority to the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, Arab nations want to unify Gaza and the West Bank under one Palestinian leadership, facilitating a credible and sovereign Palestinian state [1][3].
The declaration also condemns Hamas actions and calls for Hamas’s exclusion from Palestinian governance. For the first time, the entire Arab League, along with the EU and other countries, explicitly condemned Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel [1][2][5].
The declaration aims to support a two-state solution, empowering a sovereign and economically viable Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel. It also supports international stabilization efforts, including possible deployment of foreign forces to secure Gaza after hostilities end [1][3].
The regional unity and isolation of Hamas are also significant aspects of this call. Qatar and Saudi Arabia’s backing of a French-led peace initiative signals rare regional consensus to pressure Hamas, potentially forcing it into exile if it refuses to disarm. Arab officials view the current moment as a "golden opportunity" [4].
In summary, Arab countries are pressuring Hamas to relinquish armed control over Gaza to the Palestinian Authority to end ongoing conflict, unify Palestinian governance, and advance a peaceful two-state solution alongside Israel, marking a historic pivot in Arab states' stance toward Hamas [1][2][3][4].
- UN Conference Declaration
- Arab League Statement
- EU Approval of Declaration
- Qatar and Saudi Arabia Support French Initiative
- Condemnation of Hamas Attack
- The UN Conference Declaration and the Arab League Statement, among others, directly appeal to Hamas, urging them to leave the Gaza Strip and hand over their weapons to the Palestinian Authority, effectively ending war and Hamas's rule in Gaza.
- The call for Hamas to disarm and transfer its military capabilities to the Palestinian Authority is not only aimed at ending the war, but also at reviving Palestinian unity by unifying Gaza and the West Bank under one Palestinian leadership, facilitating a credible and sovereign Palestinian state.
