Twenty-two Arab states call on Hamas to disarm, hand Gaza to Palestinian Authority in bid to advance Palestinian statehood

NEW YORK / GAZA / JERUSALEM — In a significant and unprecedented shift, the 22 states of the Arab League — including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt — issued a joint political declaration on Tuesday calling on Hamas to disarm and relinquish control of Gaza. The move comes amid intensifying international efforts to end the nearly two-year-long war that has devastated the besieged enclave.

The call was part of a broader political communiqué signed at a high-level summit co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France on the sidelines of the United Nations meetings in New York. The declaration, which Paris described as “unprecedented,” also garnered the support of the Arab League, the European Union, and 17 other countries.

The joint statement asserted that “governance, law enforcement, and security across all Palestinian territories must be the sole responsibility of the Palestinian Authority, with appropriate international support.” It continued:

“As part of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must relinquish its rule of the territory and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international participation and support, in line with the objective of establishing a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.” 

The text also condemned the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and floated the idea of deploying a “temporary international stabilization mission” under UN auspices and at the request of the Palestinian Authority. It noted that “several countries have expressed willingness to contribute troops” to such a force.

Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, described the joint Arab condemnation of terrorism and the call for Hamas to disarm as “a rare diplomatic moment,” adding that several of the countries involved had also “signaled a readiness to normalize ties with Israel in due course.”

Growing Western Pressure and Momentum for Palestinian Recognition

The declaration comes as Western nations intensify pressure on Israel. France announced it would vote in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state in September, with the United Kingdom and Canada indicating similar positions — developments that Israeli officials quickly condemned as “a reward for terror.”

The United States has resisted joining the growing chorus for recognition but has acknowledged the spiraling humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In a rare statement, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: “The fastest way to end the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is for Hamas to surrender and release the hostages.”

Despite his typically hardline stance, Trump described conditions in Gaza as “horrific,” while his envoy, Steve Witkoff, admitted that the territory was “on the brink of famine.”

Witkoff, who leads a faltering American diplomatic push to broker a ceasefire, visited an aid distribution center in Rafah on Thursday under heavy security. He received briefings from field workers and is expected to report back to the former president with a final humanitarian acceleration plan.

Famine Looms, Death Toll Surges

The humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to worsen. United Nations agencies have warned that famine is imminent, pointing to alarming images of emaciated children and reports of mass casualties from Israeli gunfire during aid deliveries — including a deadly shooting outside Al-Shifa Hospital this week.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is under Hamas control, the death toll among Palestinians has exceeded 60,000 — the majority of them civilians. Gaza’s civil defense authorities report dozens of fatalities daily due to airstrikes, artillery shelling, and sniper fire.

In scenes of growing desperation, one Gaza resident said after receiving airdropped food, “This is what death looks like — people are stabbing each other for bread.

Meanwhile, European leaders are increasingly vocal in their criticism of Israeli policy. During a visit to Jerusalem, senior German diplomat Johann Wadepohl warned that Israel “is becoming dangerously isolated,” as countries like Portugal weigh recognition of a Palestinian state.

Hamas Silent as Political Pressures Mount

Despite reports suggesting that some within Hamas may be open to handing over control of Gaza after the war, the group has not issued an official response to the Arab call for disarmament.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains firmly opposed to any plan that could lead to Palestinian statehood, insisting such a path would jeopardize Israeli security — a position that continues to stall diplomatic efforts.

As global calls to end the war grow louder, the Arab declaration has placed Hamas under unprecedented pressure while also spotlighting the diplomatic isolation faced by Netanyahu’s government. But whether these sweeping statements will lead to a meaningful shift on the ground remains uncertain.