A group of Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan and Qatar, the more Turkey, a document on Friday, firmly condemning Hamas. This text, signed as part of the conference for the promotion of the two -state solution that was held this week in New York, marks a significant diplomatic turning point.
Disarmament and exclusion of Hamas
The document requires the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from any scenario concerning the future of Gaza. This unprecedented position of countries traditionally considered more moderate vis-à-vis the Palestinian terrorist movement comes when the war has been raging for almost two years.
The declaration also calls for an immediate cease-fire, the routing of humanitarian aid to Gaza and condemns “the business of the population” as well as any forced displacement of civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Wave of recognition in perspective
At the same time, several countries have announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state at the next UN General Assembly in September. After the statements of the British and Canadian Prime Ministers as well as the French president, Israel expects other nations to follow suit.
The Franco-Saudi conference at the UN headquarters could see new countries join this movement: Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Saint-Marin are cited as potential candidates, in addition to Spain, Ireland, Malta and Norway who have already expressed their support.
This double dynamic – condemnation of Hamas by Arab countries and increasing recognition of a Palestinian state by the international community – redraws the diplomatic contours of the Israeli -Palestinian conflict.