France’s President Emmanuel Macron told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that the Palestinian Authority should “ensure the governance” of the Gaza Strip, according to the presidential office.
During their phone conversation, Macron expressed support for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release proposal presented by US President Joe Biden. He emphasized that this deal should revive a credible path towards implementing a two-state solution, which he described as the only viable way to provide Israel with necessary security guarantees and to meet the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians.
“Gaza must be an integral part of a future Palestinian state, and a reformed and reinforced Palestinian Authority, with the help of the international community, should ensure its governance,” Macron stated.
To bolster mediation efforts after nearly eight months of conflict, Biden proposed a new three-stage roadmap on Friday. According to Biden, Israel’s plan would begin with a six-week phase involving the withdrawal of its forces from populated areas of Gaza and an initial hostage-prisoner exchange. Subsequent negotiations would focus on establishing a lasting ceasefire, which would be maintained as long as discussions continue.
In its final phase, the plan aims to reconstruct the devastated Palestinian territory without the militant group Hamas in power, Biden said.
