Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt join calls for Hamas to disarm and exit Gaza to end war with Israel
The Arab League, European Union and 17 other nations are pushing for an end to Hamas' nearly 20-year rule over Gaza as part of a two-state solution aimed at preventing further bloodshed and suffering of Palestinians, who are facing a humanitarian crisis.
'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,' the declaration read.
5 The Arab League, European Union and 17 other nations called for a two-state solution that would exile Hamas from the Gaza Strip.
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5 The resolution would see the terror group disarm and bring peace to the devastated Gaza Strip.
REUTERS
'We supported the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission upon invitation by the Palestinian Authority and under the aegis of the United Nations and in line with UN principles, building on existing UN capacities, to be mandated by the UN Security Council, with appropriate regional and international support,' it added.
France, which formally recognized the state of Palestine last week, said the declaration is the strongest of its kind by virtue of being backed by Arab nations.
'For the first time, Arab countries and those in the Middle East condemn Hamas, condemn Oct. 7, call for the disarmament of Hamas, call for its exclusion from Palestinian governance, and clearly express their intention to normalize relations with Israel in the future,' French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.
It was the latest from the United Nations summit focused on reviving a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians in the wake of reports warning of widespread famine in Gaza if immediate action is not taken.
5 Tuesday's resolution was the first time Saudi Arabia, along with other Arab nations, joined the West in a two-state solution plan that condemns Hamas.
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5 The UN conferences come as more than a million Palestinian refugees living in Gaza stand on the brink of famine, according to food security experts.
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Along with the declaration, Britain, which co-signed the order with France, has presented Israel with its own ultimatum.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday that the UK will recognize a state of Palestine before the United Nations 'unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a cease-fire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.'
The US and Israel did not take part in the UN conference, with Israel's foreign ministry slamming any prospects of a two-state solution as a 'reward' for Hamas.
5 The 21-month-old war has killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza, according to its ministry of Health.
REUTERS
While Israel has previously said it is open to a deal that would see Gaza demilitarized and Hamas leaders exiled, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that a two-state solution is not on the table.
The Israeli leader has also rejected any prospect that would see the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs the occupied West Bank, return to power in Gaza.
The PA governed Gaza until Hamas was elected to power in 2006, with the terror group then ousting the PA leadership and exerting full control over the enclave.
Israel has instead proposed that its military occupy Gaza indefinitely, with the Jewish state vetting local leaders who would go on to form their own government.
With Post wires
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