Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace today to discuss the future of Gaza and the West Bank. The leaders also announced the formation of a joint committee to draft a constitution for the Palestinian state, which France formally recognized in September.
President Abbas emphasized that Gaza, recovering from two years of conflict, remains an integral part of the Palestinian state and its sovereignty. He also spoke of implementing changes within the Palestinian Authority and holding presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible.
France is urging the Palestinian Authority to undertake reforms in preparation for the post-ceasefire period in Gaza. President Macron indicated that elections would be held “one year after the transition to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire.”
The French President also announced that France will contribute an additional 100 million euros (approximately $116 million USD) to humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza.
Regarding the West Bank, President Macron stated that Israeli annexation projects, whether “partial or total” or “de facto” through settlement expansion, constitute a red line. He affirmed that France and its European partners would respond “forcefully” if such projects are implemented.
He added that settler violence and the accelerating pace of settlement construction are reaching unprecedented levels, threatening the stability of the West Bank and violating international law. This meeting highlights the ongoing international concern regarding the region’s future. Further developments are expected as the joint committee begins its work on the Palestinian constitution.
