The above title is not my opinion, but that of the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who stated: "Hamas should relinquish power if serving Palestinian interests demands it." This is the correct stance to take given the escalating crisis in the region. It is a dangerous crisis.
Yes, serving Palestinian interests does demand that it do so. Aboul Gheit’s assertion on Al Arabiya is extremely consequential, clear, and indeed sensible. His position should be reiterated by Arab statesmen and institutions, and above all, by the Palestinian Authority itself.
This is not a sentimental question. Gaza and the entire Palestinian cause are facing a very real threat that undermines Jordanian, Egyptian, and Arab national security as a whole. What is happening now, and the repercussions it would have, could fuel extremism and terrorism in the region.
US President Donald Trump speaks of Gaza as "real estate" that he wants to own, explicitly stressing his intention to displace its residents and prevent them from ever returning. This is a dangerous statement - not a joke. Even if such a plan is impractical, its real danger lies in its consequences, not just in whether it can be carried out.
And when President Trump hints that he is willing to cut aid to Jordan and Egypt, this is not merely a threat. He is threatening to blow up the most significant peace agreement the region has ever seen: the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel.
When President Trump, setting a precedent, says that if the Israeli hostages in Gaza are not released by next Saturday at precisely 12 noon, then "let hell break loose," he is not joking either. If it were to break out, it would be the first Israeli war in the region launched with the explicit blessing of a US president.
None of this is a joke, nor can any of this be downplayed or dismissed. Acting on popular sentiment, which has never proven effective at any point during the Israeli-Palestinian or Israeli-Arab conflict, is not a real option either. Here, we must remember something crucial.
Despite Trump’s escalating rhetoric, his Secretary of State and several administration officials have stressed that anyone who rejects displacement or any of Trump’s proposals must present an alternative or better plan.
I believe the first step of this alternative was voiced by Aboul Gheit: Hamas must step aside. Hamas giving up on power serves Palestinian and Arab interests. Hamas stepping aside would be less damaging than jeopardizing Egypt and Jordan’s security or the destruction of Gaza itself.
There was a war. Its outcome is undeniable - regardless of Hamas or Iran’s claims of a false victory. Iran, after all, has agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon because it recognizes that Hezbollah has been defeated, and it is now trying to preserve what remains of Hezbollah. Gaza and its people also deserve such pragmatism and acknowledgment of facts.
Another undeniable fact (and everyone understands this, whatever they say in public) is that there will be no reconstruction or funding as long as Hamas remains in power. Who would even be willing to rebuild a territory that might soon face its sixth war before clearing the rubble?
Accordingly, conducting the same failed experiments again is not an option. The reality is clear, the dangers are imminent, and they must be confronted with rationality, not slogans or emotions. Hamas must come to terms with this.
