Arab countries, European Union make BIG appeal to Hamas on Gaza: 'Must hand over...'

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and other Arab nations have urged Hamas to give up weapons and end is rule in the Gaza Strip, in a fresh attempt to stop the war in the conflict-ridden coastal territory. Seventeen countries, along with the European Union (EU) and the Arab League, backed a seven-page document agreed at a United Nations (UN) conference on reviving the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestine. The UN text also condemned the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, which triggered the ongoing war.

What does the UN declaration say?
The UN declaration said: "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." It followed a call by the Palestinian delegation at the UN for both Israel and Hamas to leave Gaza, allowing the Palestinian Authority to take control of the territory.

What is the situation like in Gaza?
The text has been co-signed by France, Britain, and Canada as well as other western nations. Israel and its longtime ally, the United States, skipped the meeting, which also called for a possible deployment of foreign forces to stabilise Gaza after the end of hostilities. France, which co-chaired the conference with Saudi Arabia, described the declaration as "historic and unprecedented." The war in Gaza was triggered by a surprise Hamas attack on Israel in 2023, which claimed the lives of over 1,200 people. Israel responded with a monthslong and large-scale military offensive that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed most infrastructure in the region.