Saudi Arabia is reportedly demanding that Hamas be removed from power and no longer allowed to govern the Gaza Strip, setting the Palestinian Authority’s return to the coastal enclave as a condition for talks aimed at normalizing relations between the Gulf Kingdom and Israel.
The two countries were reportedly close to reaching a formal normalization agreement, before the Hamas-led massacres on October 7th derailed the peace process.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly hinted that formal recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia is on the horizon.
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has echoed Trump’s remarks, saying that more countries will soon join the Abraham Accords.
Despite its strong criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, Saudi Arabia is reportedly in favor of banishing Hamas’ leadership from the coastal enclave and supports that objective of Israel’s war.
“The job isn’t done. Without removing Hamas, there will be no peace,” the Saudi diplomatic source told i24 News.
According to the report, Saudi Arabia hopes that the ouster of Hamas will lead to the Palestinian Authority once again resuming control of the Strip.
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed his staunch opposition to that scenario.
“Once we have eliminated Hamas, the last thing we should do is bring the Palestinian Authority into Gaza, which educates its children in terrorism and finances terrorism,” Netanyahu said in March 2024 interview with Politico.
Saudi Arabia has long held that it will not formally establish relations with the Jewish State until there is a clear path to Palestinian statehood.
“We have no relationship with Israel. Our priority is to resolve the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said at a February 2024 conference.
“Our priority is the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state before normalization with Israel.”
Although Riyadh and Jerusalem lack official diplomatic relations, they are widely believed to maintain extensive behind-the-scenes cooperation.
https://worldisraelnews.com/ousting-hamas-critical-for-saudi-israel-peace-report/?vwo_powered=1
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