By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The UN conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, saw 17 countries, the EU, and the Arab League endorse a text urging Hamas to disarm and cede control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. This unprecedented declaration, also condemning the October 7th attacks, aims to facilitate a two-state solution, with some nations expressing willingness to recognize a Palestinian state. Notably, the text also considers potential deployment of foreign forces to stabilize Gaza post-conflict. The conference also saw calls for a ceasefire, aid and actions by Israel in order to proceed with a recognition of a Palestinian state, and the two-state solution’s viability is threatened by the ongoing war and Israeli actions.
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Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, joining the call for Hamas to disarm and relinquish control of Gaza, is a pretty significant shift, wouldn’t you say? It’s the kind of move that makes you sit up and take notice. It’s a message that goes against the grain of the typical narrative, and it’s a far cry from the kind of support Hamas might have expected from some of these players in the past. It’s almost like they are starting to see the bigger picture and realize that Hamas, with its tactics, is not only a hindrance to peace but also a destabilizing factor in the region.
Maybe it’s also time for some real action to back up these words. If Qatar is truly serious about this, perhaps the leaders of Hamas who are living large in Doha could be… relocated? And perhaps Al Jazeera could tone down the propaganda a bit. This is the kind of thing that makes you wonder how sincere these calls for peace actually are.
Considering that Egypt and Saudi Arabia are also part of this call, and maybe they could do something a little more concrete. Perhaps opening their borders to some of the refugees would be a good start. Some of those refugees being primarily women and children wouldn’t pose any kind of threat to their governments.
This is a stark contrast, especially when you consider the UN’s rather lackluster response to the Hamas attacks. The fact that these Arab nations are stepping up to condemn Hamas while the UN has been slow to do so speaks volumes.
Why now? Well, one wonders what’s behind this sudden shift. Is the US applying pressure behind the scenes? Are these countries finally waking up to the realization that supporting Hamas, directly or indirectly, is not in their long-term interest? Maybe they’re seeing the writing on the wall and realizing the need for a more stable and peaceful region.
The only way to get Hamas out of power is through force, and that’s not ideal. It’s good that Gulf countries are finally getting on board. The question is, will Hamas listen? Will they finally understand that their time is up and they need to find another way?
It’s the kind of move that hints at a more comprehensive, long-term solution. It’s a scenario where Hamas is gone, the PLO takes control of both Gaza and the West Bank, and Israel stops its land grabs in the West Bank.
It’s easy to see how dangerous those deeper settlements could become.
It looks like Qatar gave Trump a plane, and they are also supporting the PA, which Israel rejects. Will Israel accept that now? If the Palestinian people want peace, this is non-negotiable. The message that this sends is a powerful one. It’s about time these nations put their own interests first and stood in solidarity with the rest of the world.
It makes you wonder when France and England will get their act together.
The release of the remaining hostages is a non-negotiable condition. They are kidnapped civilians, not POWs.
Hamas, in the meantime, is effectively serving Iran’s interests, which, unsurprisingly, plays right into the interests of Israel.
That said, is this even realistic? Hamas is seriously cornered, and pretending they are surrendering might be the only viable move left. Then again, they could always slip up for media’s sake and then rejoin another group. Releasing the hostages is the most important thing.
It’s important to remember that the aid being dropped into Gaza might be more harmful than helpful. People’s digestive systems might not be working properly, so those drops of food could actually be more harmful than helpful. It’s a critical reminder of the dire humanitarian situation, and the urgency of specialized medical care and food.
Egypt may not be able to support all the people from Palestine, and why should Saudi Arabia accept the people, who have been bombed by Israel? They may not want to pay for people that Israel has bombed and displaced. Also, why should they accept refugees from an occupied territory that isn’t theirs?
France seems to be trying to have it both ways, which makes you wonder. Europe’s criticism for Hamas has never really stopped.
The West Bank government is favored by the West, and they want the violence to stop. Maybe the Arabs may not like Jews, but they have their own interests, and they could prioritize their own well-being.
It’s not as simple as it seems. If Israel doesn’t occupy the land, Hamas doesn’t have any power or legitimacy. The PLO is already viewed as a puppet state by many Palestinians, and their leader is a Holocaust denier. It is truly a dark situation.