Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt sign declaration calling for Hamas to disarm, end rule of Gaza at UN 2-state confab | The Times of Israel

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt sign declaration calling for Hamas to disarm, end rule of Gaza at UN 2-state confab | The Times of Israel

Live Update From the Liveblog of Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt sign declaration calling for Hamas to disarm, end rule of Gaza at UN 2-state confab

By AFP and Jacob Magid
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29 July 2025


Arab countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have signed onto a statement calling for Hamas to disarm and end its rule of Gaza, in a bid to end the devastating war in the Palestinian territory.

Seventeen countries, plus the European Union and Arab League, are throwing their weight behind a seven-page text — obtained by The Times of Israel — 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,” says the declaration.
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The text also condemns the deadly Hamas attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023, which launched the war.

France, which is co-chairing the conference with Saudi Arabia, calls the declaration “both historic and unprecedented.”

“For the first time, Arab countries and those in the Middle East condemn Hamas, condemn October 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,” says French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

The text, co-signed by France, Britain, and Canada among other Western nations, also calls for the possible deployment of foreign forces to stabilize Gaza after the end of hostilities.

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

“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,” says the declaration.