European leaders are looking to get involved in President Donald Trump‘s ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, now that both sides have agreed to it.
Foreign ministers from several Arab and European countries met in Paris on Thursday to discuss how to support the Palestinian territories once the war ends. Representatives from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom attended the meeting, as did the top diplomats from five key Arab states: Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey and the European Union were also represented.
French President Emmanuel Macron “will reiterate France’s constant mobilization in favor of a comprehensive political solution by working to prepare for the ‘day after,'” the Elysee said in a statement.
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Their meeting came only hours after Israel and Hamas agreed to swap the remaining 48 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and another 1,700 Palestinians who have been detained since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.
U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said ahead of the meeting that the country “stands ready to play our part not just in supporting the implementation of phase one of the peace initiative, but also on the crucial work going forward now on phase two as well.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the “unnecessary and harmful” meeting was “concocted behind Israel’s back.”
Israel has been at odds with several traditional European allies in recent months over their unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Trump’s 20-point ceasefire proposal calls for the establishment of a “Board of Peace,” which would oversee the transitional governance of Gaza by a Palestinian committee. Trump said he would be the chairman, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would also be on it, but did not specify who else would be on the committee.
The U.K., France, and Germany, the trio known as the “E3,” will argue for representation on the board, according to Politico.
Several European countries took the significant step of recognizing Palestinian statehood last month, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly. France and the U.K. recognized a Palestinian state last month, and Spain did so last year.
“The invitation of openly hostile governments toward Israel — such as the Sánchez government — to discuss Israel’s affairs is especially outrageous,” Saar continued. “The participants may, of course, discuss whatever topics they wish — but there will be no arrangements in Gaza formulated without Israel’s consent.”
Both Israeli and U.S. officials disagreed with the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, arguing that it effectively rewards Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack, which was the deadliest terrorist attack in the country’s history. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, argued that recognizing a Palestinian state made negotiating an end to the conflict more difficult.
