Abbas called for “the demilitarisation of Hamas” and a commitment to “end the Israeli occupation.”
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has called for Hamas to hand over its weapons and military capabilities to Palestinian Security Forces in a letter sent to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Abbas, who is seeking international intervention, proposed the deployment of Arab and international forces under a UN Security Council mandate to stabilize the region.
“We are ready to conclude within a clear and binding timeline, and with international support, supervision and guarantees, a peace agreement that ends the Israeli occupation,” wrote Abbas.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to hold elections “within a year” under international auspices, and emphasized that the Palestinian State would not become militarized.
Macron’s office welcomed Abbas’ “concrete commitments,” while reiterating that any peace solution requires Hamas’ demilitarisation.