Saudi-UAE Demand Hamas’ Disarmament, Qatar Pushes Back
Saudi Arabia and the UAE push for Hamas' disarmament, while Qatar insists on its political inclusion, complicating Gaza’s reconstruction efforts.
Watan-Amid ongoing consultations about Gaza’s future after the war, sharp disagreements have emerged between Saudi Arabia and the UAE on one side and Qatar on the other regarding the fate of Hamas and its role in the Palestinian political landscape.
Media reports revealed that Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have conditioned any support for Gaza’s reconstruction on the complete disarmament of Hamas. Meanwhile, Doha has insisted on its stance against excluding Hamas from the political equation.
During an unofficial summit in Riyadh, called by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Arab leaders discussed proposals for an Egyptian-led plan to rebuild Gaza. However, the discussions grew tense due to the Saudi-UAE position, which closely aligns with Israel’s vision.
Bin Salman and Bin Zayed Insist on Hamas’ Disarmament, While Qatar Strongly Opposes!
Bin Salman and Bin Zayed emphasized that any reconstruction funding must be contingent on Hamas being removed from the scene and fully disarmed, stressing that “not a single weapon should remain in Hamas’ hands after the war.”
The Saudi-Emirati stance contradicts the Egyptian proposal, which suggests integrating Hamas members into the Palestinian government as a way to contain the movement. However, this approach has raised questions about Cairo’s ability to successfully manage Hamas, given its past struggles in dealing with the Muslim Brotherhood, the main opposition to President Sisi’s regime.
On the other hand, Qatar has firmly rejected any moves to sideline Hamas, affirming the group’s right to participate in both political and security arrangements within Gaza and the broader Palestinian system.
This rift between the Saudi-UAE bloc and Qatar-Egypt comes as Israel exerts intense pressure to block any agreement that does not ensure Hamas’ elimination.
Israel’s intransigence in delaying a prisoner exchange deal appears to be part of this broader effort to prevent Hamas from regaining any form of authority in Gaza. This further complicates the Palestinian political landscape and hinders efforts to reach a long-term truce.
