The China Mail - France hosts Arab, Europe ministers for talks on 'day after' Gaza war

Israel and Hamas earlier agreed a Gaza ceasefire deal to free the remaining living Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian militant group. It is a major step towards ending a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe.

The deal brokered through indirect talks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh came two years after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel. That was followed by a relentless Israeli assault on Hamas-ruled Gaza.

While Europe has strongly supported the ceasefire efforts spearheaded by President Donald Trump, Washington and several European countries are at odds over whether it is the right moment to recognise a Palestinian state.

Macron, in a September 22 speech at the United Nations, recognised a Palestinian state on the heels of similar announcements by Canada, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

The Paris meeting brings together the top diplomats of five key Arab states -- Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- with European counterparts from France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK. Turkey and the European Union will also be represented.

"This meeting will enable work on the implementation of the peace plan and the framework for the 'day after' by specifying the aspects of a collective commitment," said a French foreign ministry statement.

It would focus on security, governance and reconstruction of the Palestinian territories after the war, it said.

- 'Unnecessary and harmful' -

Before the ceasefire deal was announced, the Paris meeting had angered Israel, further straining French-Israeli relations in the wake of President Emmanuel Macron's recognition of a Palestinian state, which infuriated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had in a message on X denounced the "unnecessary and harmful" meeting "concocted behind Israel's back" at the sensitive moment of the negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh.

The agenda includes the International Stabilisation Force evoked by Trump as part of his peace plan and support for the Palestinian Authority which runs the occupied West Bank, a French diplomatic source said this week, asking not to be named.

"It is essential to act together and get down to work," said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

Berlin has repeatedly said it disagrees with the move by France and other European countries to recognise a Palestinian state now.

The meeting is due to get underway at 5:00 pm (1500 GMT) followed by a news conference by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

It was not immediately clear if Macron, who on Wednesday met Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein and has hailed the ceasefire deal as providing "great hope" for the region, would attend.

M.Chau--ThChM