Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, has communicated with French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the potential recognition of a Palestinian state at an upcoming U.N. conference. Abbas has called for Hamas to relinquish its weapons, release all hostages, and cease its governance of Gaza.
The letter from Abbas was also addressed to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who will co-chair the U.N. conference in New York next week. Macron has outlined several conditions for France's recognition of a Palestinian state, including the disarmament of Hamas.
In his letter, Abbas stated, “Hamas will no longer rule Gaza and must hand over its weapons and military capabilities to the Palestinian security forces.” He emphasized that Palestinian forces would manage the transition with support from Arab and international allies, a proposal likely to be met with skepticism from Israel and the United States.
Abbas reiterated the demand for Hamas to release all hostages, a point he has made previously. The ongoing conflict between Abbas’s Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, and Hamas in Gaza has persisted for years, complicating reconciliation efforts and undermining the viability of a two-state solution.
Abbas condemned the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, labeling it “unacceptable and reprehensible.” His initial response to the attack was more measured, but he has since adopted a firmer stance.
Israel's military response has led to significant casualties in Gaza, with local authorities reporting nearly 56,000 deaths, a figure that has sparked international outrage, including from traditionally supportive European nations.
In response to Macron's conditions, Abbas has pledged to reform the Palestinian Authority and to hold elections within a year, although he has made similar commitments in the past without follow-through. He cited challenges related to voting in East Jerusalem, which has been a contentious issue since its annexation by Israel in 1967.
Israel has expressed strong opposition to the recognition of a Palestinian state by France and has dismissed the upcoming conference. Tensions between Netanyahu and Macron have escalated, with accusations of a “crusade against the Jewish state” directed at the French president.
While some European countries have recognized a Palestinian state, France's potential recognition carries significant weight due to its status as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and its historical ties to the region.
The French presidency has welcomed Abbas's commitments as a sign of willingness to pursue a two-state solution. The discussion surrounding this outcome has gained renewed attention following the recent violence, despite long-standing mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians.
Macron has made Israeli-Palestinian peace a priority, even as he faces domestic political challenges. Abbas has expressed his intention to avoid establishing a “militarized” state and is open to the deployment of international forces for stabilization under a U.N. mandate.
Israel's current government has been resistant to the idea of the Palestinian Authority taking control of Gaza, yet has not proposed an alternative solution. France aims to differentiate its diplomatic approach from that of the United States, as Macron weighs the implications of recognizing a Palestinian state amid conflicting advice from various stakeholders.