At a pivotal UN conference in New York, several key Arab nations—including Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan—have jointly called for the end of Hamas’ control over the Gaza Strip. The proposal, outlined in a seven-page document, argues that dismantling the Hamas government is essential to resolving the long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict.
“As part of ending the war in the Gaza Strip, Hamas must end its rule in the Gaza Strip and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority with international commitment and support,” the document declares. The statement also condemns Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
A total of 17 countries have endorsed the proposal so far, with backing from Western nations, including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Norway, and Ireland. More endorsements are expected ahead of September, when the initiative is scheduled for formal adoption at the UN.
The proposal clearly supports the point of conservatives in Europe who have been saying this since the first day of the war: Hamas is a terrorist organization that is to blame for the devastating attack on Israel, which has the right to defend itself. Now, it seems like even Arab countries are realizing that no peace can be achieved if a terrorist organization such as Hamas is being glorified by the West and receives funds fueling their war efforts.
The signatories emphasize that a lasting peace must be based on a two-state framework. According to the document, Israel and Palestine should be recognized as two distinct, coexisting states. “Recognition of Palestine is an essential and indispensable component of the two-state solution,” the paper states. It calls on Israel to commit to this path and to end the war in Gaza immediately.
At the same time, the statement insists on the release of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. The document also demands a halt to Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank and proposes that the United Nations deploy a stabilization force in the region.
Absent from the talks were Israel and the United States, both of which boycotted the meeting. A spokesperson for the Israeli government dismissed the initiative as “a gift to Hamas, which continues to reject ceasefire proposals accepted by Israel that would lead to the release of the hostages and pacification of the Gaza Strip.”
Germany’s Minister of State Florian Hahn also declared at the conference that his country would not recognize Palestine at this time. Meanwhile, France signaled its intention to do so in September, with the United Kingdom preparing for a similar move in the near future.
