In a first, Arab nations, EU urge Hamas to disarm, hand over power to Palestinians

In a bid to end the devastating war in Palestine, the Arab countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have jointly called on Hamas to give up arms and end its rule in Gaza.

Seventeen countries, along with the European Union and the Arab League, have thrown their weight behind a seven-page text agreed at a United Nations conference on reviving the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians.

"In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State," said the declaration.

The Palestinian delegation to the United Nations called on Monday for both Israel and Hamas to leave Gaza, allowing the Palestinian Authority to administer the region.

The text also condemned the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas against Israel, something the UN General Assembly has yet to do. France, which co-chaired the conference with Saudi Arabia, called the declaration "both historic and unprecedented."

"For the first time, Arab countries and those in the Middle East condemned Hamas for the October 7 incident, called for its disarmament and exclusion from Palestinian governance and clearly expressed their intention to normalise relations with Israel in the future," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

The text, co-signed by France, Britain, Canada and other western nations, also called for the possible deployment of foreign forces to stabilise Gaza after the end of hostilities.

Israel and its ally, the United States, did not take part in the meeting.

TWENTY-ONE MONTH WAR

The document was issued on the second day of the conference in New York at which Britain announced it may recognise Palestine as a state in September.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said London would proceed with recognition if Israel did not fulfil conditions, including implementing a ceasefire in Gaza and allowing in sufficient aid.

French President Emmanuel Macron also said last week that he would formally announce France's recognition of Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September.

For decades, most of the global body's members have supported a two-state solution with Israel and a Palestinian state existing side-by-side.

But after more than 21 months of war in Gaza, the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Israeli officials declaring designs to annex occupied territory, it is feared a Palestinian state could become geographically impossible.

The current war in Gaza started after Hamas attacked Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were killed.

Israel responded with large-scale military action that has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and destroyed most infrastructure in the enclave.

United Nations Secretary-General Antnio Guterres said at the meeting Monday "the two-state solution is farther than ever before."

In a statement issued late Tuesday, 15 Western nations, including France and Spain, affirmed their "unwavering support for the vision of the two-state solution."

Among the signatories, nine that have not yet recognised a Palestinian state but have expressed willingness or positive consideration of the same include Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal and San Marino.

- Ends

With inputs from AFP