Overview
- Emmanuel Macron and Mahmoud Abbas announced a joint committee to advance the State of Palestine’s formation, including work on a new constitution.
- Mahmoud Abbas committed to Palestinian Authority reforms, pledging to end prisoner payments, revise school curricula, and hold presidential and legislative elections one year after the ceasefire’s second phase.
- Macron declared any partial, total or de facto West Bank annexation a red line and said France would coordinate a strong response with European partners, while urging Israel to release withheld revenues and restore banking channels.
- France is preparing contributions to an international stabilization effort for Gaza, with three officers serving as observers in a U.S.-run structure in Israel and a new civilian team dispatched this week.
- Abbas said Hamas will have no role in Gaza’s governance and that Palestinian forces are ready to deploy alongside a multinational force, and he indicated the extradition of Hicham Harb is in its final technical phase.