Paris: France announced it has received new commitments from the Palestinian Authority (PA) to implement reforms, ahead of an international conference that could see Paris emerge as the most significant Western nation to support the recognition of an independent Palestinian state.
According to the Élysée Palace, President Emmanuel Macron received a letter from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in which he condemned the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, called for the release of all hostages, and pledged significant reforms within the Palestinian political framework.
Abbas, 89, who has led the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority since the death of Yasser Arafat in 2004, reiterated his commitment to political reform and emphasized the need for a new approach to governance in the Palestinian territories. The PA currently exercises limited autonomy in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, having lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007.
The PA has previously condemned the Hamas-led attack that triggered the ongoing Gaza war, and has advocated for the militant group to be disarmed in any future political settlement. The letter to Macron—described by French officials as containing “unprecedented” commitments—signals a potential shift in the PA’s strategy as international momentum builds for a two-state solution.
“Hamas will no longer rule Gaza and must hand over its weapons and military capabilities to the Palestinian Security Forces, which will oversee their removal outside the Occupied Palestinian territory, with Arab and international support,” Abbas wrote, according to a statement released by the Élysée.
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President Macron is working closely with Saudi Arabia to organize a major international conference from June 17 to 20, aimed at discussing the future of Palestine. French officials indicated Macron is increasingly leaning toward recognizing Palestinian statehood—a move that could redefine France’s role in the Middle East and elevate the Palestinian cause on the global stage.
However, Israel has strongly rejected any post-war role for the PA in Gaza and criticized countries contemplating Palestinian recognition, arguing that such moves would effectively reward Hamas for its attacks.
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The upcoming conference, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, is expected to draw attention from global powers and could mark a turning point in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
