Arab, Muslim states call on Hamas to disarm for first time ever

In an unprecedented development, Arab and Muslim nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, issued a joint call on Hamas to lay down their weapons and relinquish power in Gaza as part of the effort to end the war in the territory.

“Governance, law enforcement and security across all Palestinian territory must lie solely with the Palestinian Authority, with appropriate international support,” the joint document read.

“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,” the historic joint statement adds. As many experts and news outlets put it, Hamas must disarm and end its rule of Gaza to pave the way for a two-state solution.

Arab, Muslim countries condemn Hamas

In theory, that is what Israel has sought since October 7th 2023, when Hamas killed 1,195 jews, including 815 civilians, and took dozens of Israeli hostages, leading to the Jewish state’s retaliation that continues today with over 60,034 Palestinians killed, primarily women and children, some 140,000 injured, and over nearly half a million displaced and half a million dying of hunger.

The Arab and Muslim nations also condemned the October 7th attack by Hamas, and proposed a deployment of a “temporary international stabilisation mission” under the United Nations’ supervision and upon an invitation by the Palestinian Authority (PA).

“We welcomed the readiness expressed by some Member States to contribute troops,” the statement adds.

Hamas shows no sign of giving up

Hamas has shown no signs of abandoning its power in the enclave. However, militant group officials have in the past given contradictory statements about the movement’s role in a post-war Gaza.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has vehemently opposed a two-state solution, arguing that it is incompatible with his country’s security.

France has said it will vote to recognise a Palestinian state in September, to Israel’s dismay. The United Kingdom also said it will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza. Nine other EU states are also in favour of a two-state solution, as reported by viraltrendingcontent.

Although US President Donald Trump approved UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state earlier this week, the White House and Israel have condemned France and Great Britain’s pro-Palestinian statements.

Famine-like conditions in Gaza

Antonone Renard, of the World Food Program, is working in Gaza, trying to get food assistance to Palestinians in extremely vulnerable conditions due to the over 18-month-long Israeli armed attacks in their territory.

“While we are doing everything that we can actually to respond to the current wave of starvation in Gaza, the conditions we have are insufficient to break that wave,” Renard said.

“I’ve never seen a level of despair in terms of how people are now starving, how rates of malnutrition are now in Gaza. Never!” he exclaimed. “Today, I confirm that there are half a million people in famine-like conditions.”

Trump acknowledged the situation is concerning. “Some of those kids are — that’s real starvation stuff. I see it, and you can’t fake that. So we’re going to be even more involved.”

UK people find it ‘revolting’

Trump later said, “Some of those kids are — that’s real starvation stuff. I see it, and you can’t fake that. So we’re going to be even more involved.” Trump also said “Israel has a lot of responsibility” for the limited food aid in Gaza, and said he wanted (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu to “make sure they get the food.”

UK Prime Minister Starmer said the “situation on the ground in Gaza is absolutely intolerable.” He said that for the British public, “those images of starving children in particular are revolting.”