Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 26, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleArab nations will condemn Hamas at a UN event, advocating for Palestinian statehood recognition, led by France and Saudi Arabia.
PARIS -Arab countries will for the first time condemn Hamas and call for its disarmament early next week at a United Nations ministerial event in New York, a move meant to lure more European countries to recognize Palestinian statehood, France's foreign minister said on Saturday.
In an exclusive interview with French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot said the move was part of a long-planned initiative between France and Saudi Arabia.
"For the first time, Arab countries will condemn Hamas and call for its disarmament, which will seal its definitive isolation. European countries will in turn confirm their intention to recognize the State of Palestine. Half of European countries have done so, all others are considering it," Barrot told the JDD.
"The British Prime Minister has stated his intention to do so. Germany is considering it at a later stage. We will launch an appeal in New York for other countries to join us in order to set in motion an even more ambitious and demanding process that will culminate on September 21," Barrot added.
On Thursday French President Emmanuel Macron announced France would formally recognize the state of Palestine at the U.N. General Assembly on September 21, drawing condemnation from the U.S. and Israel.
Earlier on Saturday Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni called it counterproductive to recognise a Palestinian state before it is established.
On Friday a German government spokesperson said there were no plans to recognise a Palestinian state in the short term.
At the upcoming United Nations event on Monday and Tuesday, France and Saudi Arabia plan to lay out a proposed post-war roadmap leading to a two-state solution covering security, reconstruction and governance, which will be compatible with the Abraham Accords negotiated by U.S. President Trump, Barrot said.
The French minister added that in coming weeks the European Commission would take a tougher stance on Israel and demand a stop on building of any new settlement projects in the West Bank, and also an end to militarized policing of humanitarian aid distribution.
Barrot also called on fellow European countries to demand a removal of the financial blockade on the Palestinian authority so it can receive 2 billion euros he said it is owed.
(Reporting by America Hernandez in Paris; Editing by David Gregorio)
Arab countries will condemn Hamas and call for its disarmament at a UN ministerial event in New York, marking a significant shift in their stance.
France plans to formally recognize the state of Palestine at the U.N. General Assembly, a move that has drawn criticism from the U.S. and Israel.
The British Prime Minister has expressed intent to recognize Palestine, while Germany is considering it at a later stage, indicating a cautious approach among European nations.
French Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has called for the removal of the financial blockade on the Palestinian authority, which is owed 2 billion euros.
The proposed roadmap aims to establish a two-state solution, addressing security, reconstruction, and governance in the region.
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