France has secured new commitments from the Palestinian Authority (PA) for significant reforms ahead of a forthcoming conference that may see Paris as a leading Western supporter of Palestinian statehood. President Emmanuel Macron received a letter from PA President Mahmoud Abbas, who condemned the recent Hamas attack on Israel and called for the release of Israeli captives, while proposing that Hamas disarm and transfer control of Gaza to Palestinian Security Forces, a stance met with skepticism by Hamas officials regarding Abbas’s legitimacy. As Macron considers recognition of a Palestinian state, Israel opposes any PA role in Gaza and denounces international recognition efforts.
Full Article