Cairo: French President Emmanuel Macron declared on Monday that France will be actively "involved in every stage" of the Gaza ceasefire plan put forth by US President Donald Trump.
According to Anadolu Agency, Macron emphasized France's commitment to collaborating with Arab partners, highlighting France's mobilization efforts. He expressed optimism about the potential for peace, contingent on the release of hostages, which he believes could pave the way for stability in Israel, Gaza, and the broader region.
During his arrival in Egypt for the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit on Gaza, Macron articulated his gratitude towards the negotiators, including Egypt, the United States, Qatar, and Trkiye, for their roles in facilitating discussions between the Israeli government and Hamas. He underscored the summit's importance in strategizing the next steps, with a primary focus on resuming humanitarian operations in Gaza imminently.
Macron revealed plans for France to co-organize a humanitarian conference with Egypt to support sustained humanitarian initiatives and the reconstruction of Gaza. He also highlighted France's intention to assist the Palestinian Authority in governance matters, ensuring it assumes its responsibilities while implementing necessary reforms post-ceasefire.
Furthermore, Macron committed to working alongside the US and several European and Arab countries to establish a framework for an international stabilization force in Gaza, and to support the administrative setup there. He conveyed France's readiness and legitimacy in planning, diplomatic consolidation, and training for force deployment.
The military wing of Hamas, Al-Qassam Brigades, concluded the release of 20 Israeli hostages on Monday, as noted by an Anadolu correspondent. The hostages were transferred to Red Cross teams in Gaza. Concurrently, the release of Palestinian prisoners commenced, with buses departing Israeli prisons for Gaza and the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office.
President Trump had previously announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas agreed on the initial phase of a 20-point plan to implement a ceasefire in Gaza. This plan includes exchanging all Israeli captives for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, with the first phase having taken effect on Friday.
The subsequent phase of Trump's plan envisions establishing a new governing body in Gaza, excluding Hamas, deploying a multinational force, and disarming Hamas. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of over 67,800 Palestinians in Gaza, predominantly women and children, rendering the area largely uninhabitable.