Tel Aviv, Israel — In a historic and unprecedented move, a coalition of Arab and Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan, have for the first time publicly condemned the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas. At a United Nations conference in New York, these countries urged Hamas to end its rule in the Gaza Strip, disarm, and release all remaining hostages to help bring an end to the ongoing war.
The declaration, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was signed by the Arab League, the European Union, and 17 other nations. “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 document stated.
Condemnation of Israel’s Actions
While calling for an end to Hamas’s control, the seven-page declaration also strongly condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The signatories urged the Israeli leadership to lift its ban on UN agencies for Palestinian refugees and called for the deployment of foreign forces to stabilize the situation.
“We also condemn the attacks by Israel against civilians in Gaza and civilian infrastructure, siege and starvation, which have resulted in a devastating humanitarian catastrophe and protection crisis,” the declaration read, balancing the condemnation of both sides of the conflict.
International Reaction and Context
France and Saudi Arabia, as co-chairs of the conference, hailed the declaration as “historic.” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot noted that the statement signals the Arab world’s intention to “normalize relations” with Israel in the future.
The war in Gaza, which began 21 months ago following the October 7 attacks that killed over 1,200 people in Israel, has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and created a severe humanitarian crisis in the region, according to the UN.
