Abbas Calls for Disarming Hamas, Proposes International Forces in Gaza
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called for Hamas to surrender its weapons and transfer control of Gaza to Palestinian Authority security forces, according to a letter sent to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The letter, disclosed Tuesday by France, arrives ahead of an international summit in Paris focused on a two-state solution, which France and Saudi Arabia are set to cohost from June 17 to 20.
“Hamas will no longer rule Gaza and must hand over its weapons and military capabilities to the Palestinian Security Forces,” Abbas wrote. He also urged Hamas to “immediately release all hostages and captives.”
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Abbas said he was ready for international and Arab forces to deploy in Gaza under a United Nations Security Council mandate to protect Palestinian civilians.
He reaffirmed his commitment to negotiating a final peace deal with Israel “within a clear and binding timeline” and pledged to hold presidential and legislative elections “within a year” under international supervision. The last presidential and parliamentary elections in the Palestinian Authority were held over 15 years ago.
The Palestinian Authority, which lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007, has faced increasing pressure from Western and Arab nations to undergo reforms as part of a broader postwar political transition. France said Abbas’ letter included “concrete and unprecedented commitments” and welcomed it as a meaningful step toward reviving the two-state framework.
Macron, who has signaled support for recognizing Palestinian statehood, has emphasized that Hamas must be disarmed before such recognition occurs.
