France, Saudi Arabia Push Hamas Disarmament Plan Amid Israel Tensions

France and Saudi Arabia are working together on a groundbreaking proposal to disarm Hamas, in a bid to eventually demobilize the organization and integrate it into a political framework for future Palestinian governance, according to a report by Bloomberg citing sources familiar with the discussions.

The initiative, still in a preliminary phase, reportedly includes dialogue between Saudi officials and Hamas leaders. The goal, according to sources, is to transition Hamas into a non-military, political-only entity, in hopes of stabilizing the region and facilitating a broader peace process.

It remains unclear whether France has also engaged directly with Hamas representatives, given the European Union’s designation of the group as a terrorist organization.

Officials familiar with the matter suggest that the proposal envisions Hamas retaining “a degree of political power” as a strategic incentive for disarmament.

“The logic is that full exclusion from future Palestinian governance would eliminate any motivation for Hamas to lay down arms,” said one official briefed on the talks.

The emerging plan has sparked diplomatic friction, particularly between French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Macron’s administration has been vocal in advocating for international recognition of a Palestinian state, a stance that has placed it at odds with the current Israeli government.

France and Saudi Arabia are co-chairing an upcoming United Nations conference in New York, where a growing number of nations are expected to voice support for Palestinian statehood.

While the details of the disarmament plan are not expected to be publicly presented at the conference, diplomatic insiders believe the initiative is influencing behind-the-scenes negotiations.

Further tensions flared earlier this week when French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot criticized Israel’s limited allowance of humanitarian aid into Gaza, calling it “totally insufficient” and demanding “immediate and massive aid.”

His remarks followed a joint statement by the leaders of Britain, France, and Canada opposing Israel’s continued military presence in Gaza and settlement expansion in the West Bank. The leaders hinted at the possibility of punitive measures.

In response, Hamas praised the international condemnation of Israel, accusing the Israeli government of pursuing “siege and starvation” in Gaza and warning of “Zionist plans aimed at genocide and displacement.”

The timing of these developments has reignited speculation about Hamas’s motivations for its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left over 1,000 dead and triggered a devastating military response.

According to The Wall Street Journal, documents recovered by the IDF suggest the assault was intended to disrupt normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

French President Macron has not shied away from criticizing Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza. In May, Macron labeled the situation—where over half a million Gazans are reportedly facing starvation—“shameful,” and urged fellow European nations to consider sanctions against Israel.

As the international community prepares for the upcoming UN conference, France and Saudi Arabia’s covert diplomacy could reshape the regional power dynamics—though significant obstacles remain in transforming a militant group into a political player.

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members