In his message to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Abbas has stressed the need for Hamas to disarm and release hostages, setting the stage for upcoming talks aimed at recognizing a Palestinian state.
### Abbas Calls for Disarmament of Hamas Ahead of UN Conference
### Abbas Calls for Disarmament of Hamas Ahead of UN Conference
In a significant political move, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has urged Hamas to relinquish its control of Gaza before crucial international discussions.
Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, recently addressed alarming issues within Gaza through a letter to President Emmanuel Macron of France. This correspondence was also directed to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from Saudi Arabia, as both leaders gear up to co-chair a critical U.N. conference in New York next week that aims to explore the establishment of a Palestinian state.
In his communication, Abbas made clear demands: he called for Hamas to “hand over its weapons,” immediately release all hostages, and cease its governance over Gaza. These requests align with Macron's position, as the French president has outlined specific conditions that must be met for France to potentially recognize Palestinian statehood during the upcoming conference.
“Our security forces will oversee the disbanding of Hamas, with support from Arab and international communities,” Abbas stated. This proposal is expected to face skepticism from both Israeli leaders and U.S. officials who have historically supported a two-state solution while stressing the internal strife between Abbas's Palestinian Authority and Hamas.
The ongoing conflict has raised tensions following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths. Abbas has since vocally condemned the assault, characterizing it as “unacceptable and reprehensible.” His latest statements reflect a continued struggle for leadership within Palestinian territories and underscore the challenges that lie ahead as international discussions approach.
In his communication, Abbas made clear demands: he called for Hamas to “hand over its weapons,” immediately release all hostages, and cease its governance over Gaza. These requests align with Macron's position, as the French president has outlined specific conditions that must be met for France to potentially recognize Palestinian statehood during the upcoming conference.
“Our security forces will oversee the disbanding of Hamas, with support from Arab and international communities,” Abbas stated. This proposal is expected to face skepticism from both Israeli leaders and U.S. officials who have historically supported a two-state solution while stressing the internal strife between Abbas's Palestinian Authority and Hamas.
The ongoing conflict has raised tensions following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths. Abbas has since vocally condemned the assault, characterizing it as “unacceptable and reprehensible.” His latest statements reflect a continued struggle for leadership within Palestinian territories and underscore the challenges that lie ahead as international discussions approach.
