In a significant development amidst escalating Middle Eastern tensions, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has addressed a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, urging Hamas to relinquish its military capabilities and governance of Gaza. This plea comes as the two leaders prepare to co-chair a U.N. conference aimed at discussing the potential recognition of a Palestinian state.
Abbas Urges Disarmament of Hamas Before U.N. Conference
Abbas Urges Disarmament of Hamas Before U.N. Conference
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas calls on Hamas to surrender weapons and free hostages ahead of upcoming U.N. talks on Palestinian statehood.
Abbas emphasized in his correspondence that Hamas must "hand over its weapons" to the Palestinian security forces, ensuring oversight in collaboration with both Arab nations and international partners. This demand is part of a broader set of conditions outlined by Macron for the possibility of France recognizing a Palestinian state, which includes the urgent release of all hostages held by Hamas following the devastating October 7 attack that claimed around 1,200 Israeli lives.
The long-standing rivalry between Abbas’s Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, and Hamas, which maintains control over Gaza, has historically obstructed prospects for reconciliation and a genuine peace process. Netanyahu's government has frequently highlighted this division as a key argument against the viability of a two-state solution, viewing it as an obstacle to stability and coexistence.
Abbas's strong condemnation of the recent violence and his calls for Hamas to cease its governance structure reflect a crucial moment in the ongoing conflict and the international community's search for a path towards peace and recognition of Palestinian rights on the global stage.
The long-standing rivalry between Abbas’s Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, and Hamas, which maintains control over Gaza, has historically obstructed prospects for reconciliation and a genuine peace process. Netanyahu's government has frequently highlighted this division as a key argument against the viability of a two-state solution, viewing it as an obstacle to stability and coexistence.
Abbas's strong condemnation of the recent violence and his calls for Hamas to cease its governance structure reflect a crucial moment in the ongoing conflict and the international community's search for a path towards peace and recognition of Palestinian rights on the global stage.
