Dr. Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed of the United Arab Emirates, stated on Friday that the interests of the Palestinian people should take precedence over those of Hamas, as negotiations to uphold the Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israel intensify.

In a post on social media platform X, Dr. Gargash expressed support for the remarks made by Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary General of the Arab League, who called for Hamas to relinquish its governance of the Gaza Strip.

Dr. Gargash noted, "The rational call by the Brother Ahmed Aboul Gheit...

for Hamas to step down from the administration of Gaza is appropriate, as the interest of the Palestinian people must take precedence over the interest of the movement."

His comments came amid a delicate ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which was established on January 19 and is set to last for six weeks.

On Thursday, Hamas affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement, including the planned release of hostages.

This statement followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ultimatum threatening to resume military operations unless hostages held in Gaza were released within days.

Secretary-General Aboul Gheit emphasized that Hamas should consider stepping down if it would benefit the Palestinian people, during an interview with regional media.

He also warned that ongoing tensions could escalate, particularly following recent comments by former US President Donald Trump suggesting that the United States should "buy and own Gaza," a proposal Aboul Gheit argues could destabilize the region further.

Aboul Gheit remarked at the World Governments Summit in Dubai that such plans could lead to a new cycle of conflict in the Middle East, endangering peace efforts in the region.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with reports indicating that over 48,200 Palestinians have been killed and 111,676 wounded since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023. The situation has resulted in significant food shortages and limited access to healthcare, with many structures destroyed by ongoing airstrikes.

In discussions regarding the broader peace process, President Sheikh Mohamed highlighted the necessity of achieving a "just and comprehensive peace" in the Middle East, advocating for a two-state solution during phone calls with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and meetings with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Abu Dhabi this week.