Several Arab nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, are demanding that Hamas lay down its arms and agree to a two-state solution as the terror group’s war with Israel rages.

The entire Arab League, the European Union and 17 other countries backed the “New York Declaration” on Tuesday, during a conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.

The declaration, which was obtained and published by the Times of Israel, calls for the unification of Gaza and the West Bank under the control of the Palestinian Authority and for “the end of armed group control and the dismantlement of their military capabilities,” likely referring to Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups. 

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, co-chairs of a United Nations high-level international conference hosted by France and Saudi Arabia to work towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, listen to a question during a press briefing at U.N. headquarters in New York City, July 28, 2025.  (REUTERS/Kylie Cooper)

Israel, however, did not respond well to the declaration, saying it would not back down from its goal of eliminating Hamas.

“No token recognition and no U.N. resolution will change the basic fact that there are those in the world who fight terrorists and extremist forces and then there are those who turn a blind eye to them or resort to appeasement,” Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement. “We will do whatever is necessary to bring home the hostages and defeat Hamas.”

The U.S. balked at the conference, saying it was “unproductive and ill-timed.”

“This is a publicity stunt that comes in the middle of delicate diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.  Far from promoting peace, the conference will prolong the war, embolden Hamas, and reward its obstruction and undermine real-world efforts to achieve peace,” State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement. “The United States will not participate in this insult but will continue to lead real-world efforts to end the fighting and deliver a permanent peace.”