Bloomberg: New Franco-Saudi plan seeks to transform Hamas into political entity

France and Saudi Arabia are collaborating on a new diplomatic initiative aimed at disarming Hamas and promoting its eventual demobilisation.

According to sources familiar with the talks, cited by Bloomberg, Saudi officials have been in contact with Hamas as part of this effort, although it remains unclear whether French representatives have also engaged directly with the group, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by both the European Union and the United States.

The core objective of the proposal is to transform Hamas into a purely political entity, allowing it to retain some role in future Palestinian governance while relinquishing its military capabilities. Sources suggest that granting Hamas a limited political role might increase its willingness to disarm. However, this idea faces likely resistance from Israel, whose government insists that Hamas should hold no political power once the ongoing conflict in Gaza concludes.

Tensions are also rising between French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over France’s efforts to encourage more countries to recognise a Palestinian state. This diplomatic push is set to culminate in a United Nations conference next month in New York, co-chaired by Paris and Riyadh, designed to build support for a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has not indicated whether it will back this initiative. Israel, particularly since Hamas’s October 2023 attack that sparked the current Gaza war, firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, discontent with Hamas appears to be growing among Palestinians themselves. Social media videos show hundreds of Palestinians protesting for a third consecutive day in southern Gaza, chanting slogans demanding Hamas’s removal. Some protesters have called on the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority to assume control of Gaza from Hamas, its longstanding rival. Mahmoud Abbas, the authority’s president, and his deputy, Hussein Al-Sheikh, have both recently urged Hamas and other Palestinian factions to demilitarise in the interest of the broader Palestinian cause.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Netanyahu outlined his conditions for ending the 19-month war, which has devastated Gaza and caused over 53,000 Palestinian deaths according to Hamas-run health authorities. The conflict began after Hamas launched an assault on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 Israelis and abducting 251 hostages, of whom about 20 remain alive according to Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister demanded the return of all hostages, Hamas’s complete disarmament, and its removal from power.

Netanyahu stated, “Their leadership is expelled from Gaza, or what’s left of them, and Gaza is completely free of weapons.” He also indicated that Israel would facilitate what he referred to as “the Trump plan,” a controversial proposal involving the voluntary relocation of Gazans to other countries. This plan, originally advanced by former US President Donald Trump and widely rejected by Arab and Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia, envisions depopulating Gaza and rebuilding it as a luxury seaside resort.

In parallel, Netanyahu said Israel would continue with its new military approach aimed at capturing and holding all of Gaza, while ensuring humanitarian aid delivery. Hamas, for its part, has stated it will not release hostages unless a permanent ceasefire is established and Israel fully withdraws from Gaza.

Despite the ongoing conflict, there are signs of growing international pressure on Israel. Canada, France, and the United Kingdom have urged Israel to “cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism about “ongoing efforts” to bring an end to the war, stating in congressional testimony, “You can’t begin to provide the lives that people who live there deserve, free of Hamas, until that ends.”

By Tamilla Hasanova