GAZA CITY, Palestine/ISTANBUL — The Palestinian militant group Hamas issued a scathing rebuke on Friday against Kazakhstan's announcement to formally join the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords with Israel, labeling the move as a "reprehensible" effort to legitimize alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza. In a strongly worded statement released from its Gaza-based leadership, Hamas described the decision as "whitewashing the genocide crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against our people in Gaza, at a time when this entity and its leaders face growing international isolation and are wanted by the International Criminal Court."
The statement, which echoed sentiments widely shared on social media platforms by pro-Palestinian accounts, urged "all nations — particularly Arab and Islamic countries — to cut all forms of relations with the criminal Zionist entity and refrain from engaging in any normalization projects with it." Hamas further called for global solidarity to "strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian people and back their legitimate struggle to achieve freedom, independence, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital." This condemnation comes just one day after U.S. President Donald Trump heralded Kazakhstan's accession as a "major step forward in building bridges across the World," signaling renewed momentum for his signature foreign policy achievement.
The Abraham Accords, first unveiled in 2020 during Trump's initial term, represent a series of bilateral agreements aimed at normalizing diplomatic, economic, and security ties between Israel and several Muslim-majority nations. The original signatories — the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco — marked a historic shift away from the traditional Arab consensus that conditioned relations with Israel on progress toward Palestinian statehood, as outlined in the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. These deals bypassed the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, focusing instead on mutual interests in countering Iranian influence, boosting trade, and fostering technological collaboration. Since their inception, the accords have facilitated over $3 billion in annual bilateral trade between Israel and the UAE alone, including joint ventures in cybersecurity, agriculture, and renewable energy, according to Israeli government reports.
Kazakhstan's entry, announced on November 6, 2025, during a White House summit with Central Asian leaders, makes it the fifth nation to join — and the first from outside the Arab world. Unlike the initial signatories, however, Kazakhstan's participation is largely symbolic. The Central Asian republic, home to a population of about 20 million where roughly 70% identify as Sunni Muslim, established full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992, mere months after declaring independence from the Soviet Union. Over the past three decades, the two countries have maintained embassies in each other's capitals, exchanged high-level visits, and collaborated on sectors like agriculture, water management, and defense technology. In 2024, bilateral trade reached approximately $500 million, primarily in Kazakh oil exports and Israeli agricultural tech imports.
U.S. officials, speaking anonymously to Axios, emphasized that the move is intended to "reinvent" the Abraham Accords framework, positioning it as a "club that many countries want to be a member of" to counter Israel's post-October 7, 2023, international isolation. The announcement followed a trilateral phone call facilitated by Trump between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the discussion as a "great call" and teased an upcoming signing ceremony, adding that "many more countries are trying to join this club of STRENGTH." Tokayev's office echoed this optimism, stating that accession aligns with Kazakhstan's "foreign policy course — grounded in dialogue, mutual respect, and regional stability," and could enhance economic ties, particularly in critical minerals and infrastructure.
Pressed on the limited novelty of Kazakhstan's involvement — given its 33-year history of recognition — Trump deferred to Vice President JD Vance during a White House dinner with Central Asian leaders. Vance responded that the entry "gives great momentum to the Abraham Accords," framing it as a signal that "the momentum... is alive and well in the second administration." Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also present, elaborated that the accords transcend bilateral ties, creating "a partnership that brings special and unique economic development on all sorts of issues" among members. Analysts note this could pave the way for other nations, such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, or even Syria under its transitional government, to join, though U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has hinted at up to six potential additions.
The timing of Kazakhstan's move is particularly poignant amid the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, brokered last month after 15 months of war that has claimed over 43,000 Palestinian lives and displaced nearly 2 million, according to Gaza health authorities. The conflict erupted following Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 250 hostages. Captured Hamas documents reviewed by the Israel Defense Forces reveal that the group's leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, viewed normalization deals like the Abraham Accords as existential threats, prompting the assault to "derail Israel-Saudi normalization" and rally Muslim solidarity. Despite the war's devastation — including ICC arrest warrants sought for Netanyahu and Hamas leaders on war crimes charges — the accords have endured. Trade between Israel and UAE-Bahrain continued unabated, underscoring the resilience of economic pragmatism over ideological solidarity.
Hamas's reaction, disseminated via Telegram and amplified by outlets like Al Mayadeen and Press TV, fits a pattern of vehement opposition to normalization. The group has long criticized the accords for sidelining Palestinian rights, a view shared by public opinion in signatory nations. Polls from 2021 showed over 70% of Emiratis and Bahrainis opposed the deals, citing the lack of progress on Palestinian statehood. Yet, as one American Thinker analysis quipped, Kazakhstan's entry delivers a stark "answer" to Hamas: geopolitical caravans move forward regardless of "barking dogs," prioritizing prosperity over perpetual conflict.
For Palestinians, the development exacerbates fears of diplomatic marginalization. Aid groups report Gaza's humanitarian crisis persists, with 90% of residents facing acute food insecurity despite the ceasefire. Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri told Al Jazeera that such normalizations "betray the ummah" and embolden Israeli actions, including recent vows to dismantle all Hamas tunnels in Gaza. In Istanbul, where Hamas maintains a political office, exiles echoed the call for boycotts, drawing parallels to the 2020 accords' backlash.
On the Israeli side, Netanyahu praised the move as "historic," vowing deeper cooperation with Kazakhstan on innovation and security. Israeli exports to Central Asia have surged 40% since 2020, driven by tech transfers in desalination and cybersecurity — fields where Israel leads globally. For Trump, it's a foreign policy win amid domestic challenges, bolstering his narrative of "peace through strength" as he eyes Saudi Arabia's potential entry, contingent on Gaza reconstruction pledges.
As the dust settles on this latest chapter, the Abraham Accords' expansion underscores a fractured Middle East: one where economic incentives increasingly trump historical grievances, even as voices like Hamas warn of deepening divides. With rumors of a White House signing ceremony swirling, the world watches whether this "club of strength" will swell — or fracture under the weight of unresolved Palestinian aspirations.
