ISTANBUL

French President Emmanuel Macron vowed on Monday that they will be "involved in every stage" of the Gaza ceasefire plan.

"France will be involved in every stage of (US) President (Donald) Trump’s (Gaza ceasefire) plan, alongside the Arab partners it helped mobilize," Macron said through the US social media company X.

He also noted that with the release of hostages, "peace becomes possible for Israel, for Gaza, and for the region."

"I want to share this joy, this emotion today with both the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, and to thank the negotiators who made this possible: Egypt, which is hosting us today for this summit, the United States of America, Qatar, and Türkiye who have helped sustain these exchanges between the Israeli government and Hamas," Macron also told reporters on his arrival in Egypt for the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit on Gaza.

He noted that the summit serves as a way to prepare the next steps, stressing that the priority is to resume humanitarian operations in Gaza within the next few hours.

He also announced that France will co-organize with Egypt a humanitarian conference for Gaza in the coming weeks to “enable the lasting resumption of humanitarian efforts and reconstruction.”

"On governance issues, we will have a very specific role alongside the Palestinian Authority, ensuring that it has its share of responsibility, but also that it carries out the necessary reforms for the day after," Macron also said, reaffirming that France will play a role in the second phase of the ceasefire plan.

He also stressed that they would work with the US and other European and Arab countries to create a framework for an international stabilization force and to support the administrative framework to be established for Gaza.

"France is ready and has already begun planning work. We are prepared to do this, and I believe our role is highly legitimate in terms of planning, diplomatic consolidation, and training for the deployment of forces," Macron reassured.

Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, concluded on Monday the release of 20 living Israeli hostages, according to an Anadolu correspondent. The hostages were handed over to Red Cross teams in two groups in the Gaza Strip.

The release of Palestinian prisoners has also begun, as the buses have left Israeli prisons for Gaza and the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office on Monday.

Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of his 20-point plan aimed at implementing a ceasefire in Gaza. The plan includes the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. The first phase took effect on Friday.

Phase two of the plan envisions the creation of a new governing body in Gaza, excluding Hamas, the deployment of a multinational force, and the disarmament of Hamas.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed more than 67,800 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, leaving the enclave largely uninhabitable.