French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a stark warning to Israel on Tuesday, stating that any plans for annexation in the West Bank would cross a "red line" and provoke a coordinated European response. The declaration came during Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's visit to Paris amid a fragile truce between Hamas and Israel.
Diplomatic Meeting Amid Fragile Ceasefire
The meeting between Macron and Abbas occurred exactly one month after a temporary ceasefire took effect, following two years of intense conflict triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack against Israel. The 89-year-old Abbas leads the Palestinian Authority, which maintains limited control over parts of the West Bank and is being considered to potentially assume governance in Gaza under current peace negotiations.
Macron, whose country formally recognized a Palestinian state in September, expressed grave concerns about escalating violence in the West Bank. "Plans for partial or total annexation, whether legal or de facto, constitute a red line to which we will respond strongly with our European partners," Macron stated during a joint press conference with the Palestinian leader.
Settlement Expansion and Violence Escalation
The French president specifically condemned the increasing violence by settlers and accelerated settlement projects, describing them as reaching "new heights, threatening the stability of the West Bank" and constituting clear violations of international law. The warning comes as tensions in the region remain high despite the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza.
Statistical evidence reveals the severity of the situation in the West Bank since the Gaza conflict began. According to Palestinian health ministry figures, at least 1,002 Palestinians, including militants, have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers during this period. Meanwhile, official Israeli data shows that 43 Israelis, including military personnel, have died in Palestinian attacks within the same territory.
Joint Committee for Palestinian Statehood
Following their discussions about post-ceasefire steps, Macron and Abbas announced the establishment of a joint committee dedicated to "the consolidation of the state of Palestine." Macron revealed that this committee would contribute to drafting a new constitution, noting that Abbas had presented him with a preliminary draft.
Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to implementing reforms, including holding presidential and parliamentary elections once the war concludes. "We are nearing completion of a draft of the provisional constitution of the state of Palestine and the laws on elections and political parties," the Palestinian leader confirmed.
The diplomatic developments align with broader international efforts to stabilize the region. Under former U.S. President Donald Trump's 20-point peace proposal, an international security force comprising Arab and Muslim allies would help stabilize Gaza during Israeli troop withdrawals. A transitional authority would then assume control of the territory's administration from Hamas until the Palestinian Authority completes necessary reforms.
Trump recently indicated that he expects an International Stabilization Force tasked with monitoring the ceasefire to deploy to Gaza "very soon." The ongoing diplomatic activity occurs against the backdrop of continuing regional tensions, with Hamas's 2023 attack resulting in 1,221 Israeli deaths, predominantly civilians, according to AFP calculations based on official Israeli data.
