Arab states seeking to achieve a settlement in the Gaza Strip have become divided in their views on the future role of the Palestinian movement Hamas in governing the enclave. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources.
According to the publication, one of the main mediators in the settlement process — Egypt — believes that it is impossible to completely exclude Hamas from Gaza’s political life. In Egypt’s view, the movement should be disarmed, and efforts should be made to weaken its influence, but Hamas should still be allowed to continue political activities in the enclave alongside other local factions. This plan is generally supported by Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
However, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), whose financial involvement is considered crucial for Gaza’s reconstruction, is firmly opposed to Hamas maintaining any role in Gaza. The UAE supports transferring political control over Gaza to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which governs the West Bank. However, this approach faces resistance from Qatar. According to sources, it was at Qatar’s insistence that PNA President Mahmoud Abbas was not invited to the upcoming meeting of Arab state representatives on Gaza’s future, scheduled for March 4.
Both Israel and its ally, the United States, are also strongly opposed to Hamas retaining any power. WSJ notes that all the mentioned Arab countries broadly agree that Hamas representatives could ultimately derail efforts to reach a peaceful settlement and rebuild Gaza. Additionally, all parties are unanimously opposed to a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, which called for relocating Gaza’s population to other Arab countries.
The lack of unity among Arab states over Hamas’ future complicates the development of a comprehensive plan for Gaza’s reconstruction, which must be closely linked to a broader political settlement and security framework. Since the expiration of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement on March 1, Israel and Hamas have not yet reached any new agreements on how to proceed. Representatives from Israel and Hamas met in Cairo on Friday to discuss extending the first phase, and according to WSJ sources, both sides showed some willingness to pursue this option.
On March 4, Egypt will host an emergency summit of the Arab League, where Arab leaders are expected to discuss an alternative plan to the US proposal for Gaza’s reconstruction.
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Based on TASS materials