Arab League issues first condemnation of October 7 and urges Hamas to disarm

The document also reiterated specific criticism of the October 7 massacres, but also of “attacks by Israel against civilians in Gaza and civilian infrastructure”.

And it added: “War, occupation, terror and forced displacement cannot deliver either peace or security. Only a political solution can.”

This marks the first occasion on which the Arab League, which includes anti-Israel stalwarts Syria and Lebanon as well as the Palestinian Authority, has specifically condemned Hamas’ terror attacks that sparked that Gaza War.

The so-called “New York Declaration” also set out its signatories’ vision for the eventual end of the conflict, resulting in an independent but demilitarised Palestinian state integrated into the Middle East and living in peace with Israel.

It also stated that “Gaza is an integral part of a Palestinian state and must be unified with the West Bank”.

In aid of this, it ruled out Hamas as a member of the post-war administration, arguing that the new state should come entirely “under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority”.

France, which co-hosted Tuesday’s conference with Saudi Arabia, called the document “both historic and unprecedented”.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot added: “For the first time, Arab countries and those in the Middle East condemn Hamas, condemn October 7, call for the disarmament of Hamas, call for its exclusion from Palestinian governance and clearly express their intention to normalize relations with Israel in the future.”

Despite the criticism of Hamas, though, the declaration received a cool reception in Israel. Danny Danon, head of the Israeli mission to the UN, said: “There are those in the world who fight terrorists and extremist forces and then there are those who turn a blind eye to them or resort to appeasement.”