Arab League backs call for Hamas to disarm for a two-state solution
Saudi Arabia and France issued the "New York Declaration," which was backed by the Arab League, Qatar and Egypt.
The Arab League called on militant group Hamas to disarm and hand power in Gaza to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority as part of a broader call for a two-state solution in the Middle East.
France, which said last week it would recognize a Palestinian state in September, and Saudi Arabia together issued a declaration July 29, backed by Egypt, Qatar and the Arab League, outlining steps toward implementing a two-state solution.
As part of an end to the Gaza war, they said Hamas "must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority." The declaration came at a two-day United Nations conference in New York.
The Arab call for Hamas to disarm came as Gaza is in the grip of starvation brought on by a near-complete Israeli blockade of food and medical supplies. More than 60,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza during Israel’s retaliatory war on Hamas following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel.
"Those children look very hungry," President Donald Trump said July 28, contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that there was no starvation in Gaza. “I want to make sure they get the food, every ounce of food.”
Hamas has consistently rejected calls to disarm or cede control of Gaza.
The Arab League has 22 members including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, most of whom are aligned against Iran, Hamas’ most important backer.
Contributing: Reuters