Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has stated that Hamas will have no role in the future governance of the Gaza Strip, calling on the group and other factions to surrender their weapons to the Palestinian Authority. Speaking via video conference at the United Nations summit on the two-state solution, Abbas emphasized that the Palestinian state is the only legitimate entity qualified to assume control of Gaza, under the supervision of a designated committee and with support from Arab and international partners.
Abbas stressed the need for a unified Palestinian state governed by the rule of law and secured by a single, legitimate security force. “What we want is one state, under one law, with one legitimate security authority,” he said. He reiterated that neither Hamas nor any other armed faction would be permitted to operate independently or hold onto weapons outside the framework of the Palestinian state.
He also confirmed a commitment to democratic governance, announcing plans to hold presidential and parliamentary elections within one year of the war’s end. A transitional constitution, he said, would be drafted within three months to ensure a formal move from the current Palestinian Authority to full statehood.
Abbas welcomed France’s official recognition of the State of Palestine during the summit and expressed appreciation for the July New York Declaration, which was jointly endorsed by the UN and participating nations. He praised the international momentum toward Palestinian recognition and called on more countries to follow suit.
“We commend the positions of those countries that have recognized the State of Palestine and urge those that have not yet done so to take that step,” he said. “We call on the international community to support Palestine in becoming a full member of the United Nations.”
