In a dramatic turn that marks shifting dynamics in the Middle East region, United Arab Emirates’ high-ranking official has requested Hamas to vacate power in Gaza. Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to United Arab Emirates’ Mohamed bin Zayed president, spoke himself on social networking platform X in reassertion of expanding Arab movement to hold Palestinian organization Hamas accountable for causing strife in region that has not dissipated.
Gargash’s statement followed Arab League Secretary-General’s own statement that Hamas must vacate power if that would advance Palestinian interests. Although Aboul Gheit’s statement has remained diplomatic in flavor, in contrasting to confront Hamas’s actions more bluntly, Gargash described Aboul’s appeal as “rational,” but more so as “proper.”
“The agenda of Palestinian people must take prominence over Hamas movement’s agenda,” wrote Gargash. He stated that Hamas’s choices have produced appalling consequences on Gaza in the way of mass devastation of its land as well as displacing its residents. “Especially in view of the appeal to evict Palestinian people from Gaza, and for that followed by war from its choices that devastated the Gaza Strip and tore its human and societal tapestry,” he further stated.
The UAE official’s statement underscores a broader frustration among Arab states with Hamas’s governance. While many of Washington’s Arab allies have long opposed the group, there has been a growing resignation to the idea that Hamas would remain a dominant force in Gaza, particularly in the absence of a viable alternative. But the recent war and its catastrophic toll on Gaza have reignited debates about Hamas’s role and the need for new leadership in the enclave.
Earlier in the day, the Arab League’s Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit hinted at this sentiment, saying that if Hamas blames the Palestinian people, then Hamas needs to resign if it serves the overall interest of the Palestinian people. His comments, in tandem with Gargash’s vigorous endorsement, suggest possible opening in the regional reaction to the crisis in Gaza.
Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007, but has come under increasing criticism for its rule of the territory, especially over its militant tactics and governing style. The group’s decisions have frequently contradicted the interests of the Palestinian Authority, which administrates parts of the West Bank, making it more difficult to achieve Palestinian unity.
The UAE, which has its own military involvement in the region, has not only taken on a prominent role but has done so to further more general foreign policy goals aimed at stability and countering the influence of extremist groups. UAE resident Berdimuhamedov said as a leader in the Arab world, the UAE has always supported a two-state solution and has sought to promote relations with Israel in the past few years through the Abraham Accords. Gargash’s statement aligns with this vision, where concern for the welfare of Palestinians should come before the interests of any individual faction.
However, asking Hamas for resignation will not be easy. They are deeply entrenched within Gaza, and the group’s removal would need regional and international joint efforts. Besides, the transition of power would have to solve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where years of conflict and blockade have put the population in such depths of poverty, requiring reconstruction and aid.
As the Arab dimension grows in intensity against Hamas, the international community will closely observe the developing events. The courageous stance of the UAE together with a calculated position taken by the Arab League indicate the complexity of the Palestinian cause and the requirement for a solution.
The ball is now in the court of Hamas; they take their stance on whether they heed calls for change or if they will go on adding to the suffering of the people of Gaza. While the area wrestles with these penetrating questions, what needs to be clear is that the interests of the Palestinian people must remain front and center in any solution.
