Arab Nations Stun World: Join Western Powers in Historic Anti-Hamas Stand

Paul Riverbank, 7/30/2025Arab nations join Western powers in historic stance against Hamas, marking unprecedented Middle East shift.

A Seismic Shift in Middle East Politics: Arab Nations Break Ranks with Hamas

The Middle East's political landscape shifted dramatically last week when several Arab nations did something previously unthinkable: they publicly called for Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza. As someone who's covered regional politics for over two decades, I can't overstate how extraordinary this development is.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt – countries that have historically treaded carefully around Palestinian internal politics – joined forces with the EU and others in demanding Hamas surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority. I remember covering the 2007 Hamas takeover of Gaza; back then, such Arab unity against the group would've been inconceivable.

What makes this particularly striking is the timing. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot didn't mince words when he pointed out this unprecedented condemnation of Hamas by Arab countries. The October 7 attacks seem to have fundamentally altered regional calculations.

But here's where things get complicated. While diplomatic wheels turn, Gaza faces what UN experts call an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. I spoke with aid workers last week who described scenes that would shake even the most hardened correspondent. "Unlike anything we've seen this century," was how Ross Smith from the World Food Programme put it – and he's seen his share of disasters.

The UK's position adds another layer to this shifting landscape. Their conditional offer to recognize Palestinian statehood reads like a diplomatic chess move, trying to pressure both sides toward compromise. But Netanyahu's government isn't playing. Their counter-proposal – maintaining military control while vetting local leaders – shows just how far apart the sides remain.

During my recent conversations with diplomats in Jerusalem, many pointed to Israel's parliament's recent actions regarding the West Bank and Jordan Valley as potential deal-breakers. South African Minister Ronald Ozzy Lamola's warning about "burying the two-state solution" reflects growing international frustration.

China's involvement – hosting Palestinian factions in Beijing – suggests we're seeing a broader realignment of regional influence. Even smaller nations like San Marino and Iceland are staking out positions, with Iceland's Foreign Minister Gunnarsdóttir eloquently framing Palestinian statehood not as a gift but as an inherent right.

The situation reminds me of covering the Oslo Accords in the '90s – moments when significant change seemed possible, yet remained frustratingly out of reach. Today's crisis might be approaching another such turning point, but with one crucial difference: the unprecedented alignment of Arab states against Hamas has fundamentally altered the equation.

What happens next will likely depend on whether this diplomatic momentum can translate into concrete action. Based on decades of covering this region, I've learned that moments of potential breakthrough often collapse under the weight of entrenched positions. But this time, the combination of Arab unity and humanitarian crisis might just be enough to force meaningful change.

A Seismic Shift in Middle East Politics: Arab Nations Break Ranks with HamasThe Middle East's political landscape shifted dramatically last week when several Arab nations did something previously unthinkable: they publicly called for Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza. As someone who's covered regional politics for over two decades, I can't overstate how extraordinary this development is.Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt – countries that have historically treaded carefully around Palestinian internal politics – joined forces with the EU and others in demanding Hamas surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority. I remember covering the 2007 Hamas takeover of Gaza; back then, such Arab unity against the group would've been inconceivable.What makes this particularly striking is the timing. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot didn't mince words when he pointed out this unprecedented condemnation of Hamas by Arab countries. The October 7 attacks seem to have fundamentally altered regional calculations.But here's where things get complicated. While diplomatic wheels turn, Gaza faces what UN experts call an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. I spoke with aid workers last week who described scenes that would shake even the most hardened correspondent. "Unlike anything we've seen this century," was how Ross Smith from the World Food Programme put it – and he's seen his share of disasters.The UK's position adds another layer to this shifting landscape. Their conditional offer to recognize Palestinian statehood reads like a diplomatic chess move, trying to pressure both sides toward compromise. But Netanyahu's government isn't playing. Their counter-proposal – maintaining military control while vetting local leaders – shows just how far apart the sides remain.During my recent conversations with diplomats in Jerusalem, many pointed to Israel's parliament's recent actions regarding the West Bank and Jordan Valley as potential deal-breakers. South African Minister Ronald Ozzy Lamola's warning about "burying the two-state solution" reflects growing international frustration.China's involvement – hosting Palestinian factions in Beijing – suggests we're seeing a broader realignment of regional influence. Even smaller nations like San Marino and Iceland are staking out positions, with Iceland's Foreign Minister Gunnarsdóttir eloquently framing Palestinian statehood not as a gift but as an inherent right.The situation reminds me of covering the Oslo Accords in the '90s – moments when significant change seemed possible, yet remained frustratingly out of reach. Today's crisis might be approaching another such turning point, but with one crucial difference: the unprecedented alignment of Arab states against Hamas has fundamentally altered the equation.What happens next will likely depend on whether this diplomatic momentum can translate into concrete action. Based on decades of covering this region, I've learned that moments of potential breakthrough often collapse under the weight of entrenched positions. But this time, the combination of Arab unity and humanitarian crisis might just be enough to force meaningful change.