France Steps In to Aid Palestinians in Crafting a Future State's Blueprint

France is stepping up to assist the Palestinian Authority in creating a constitution for a potential future state. This announcement came from President Emmanuel Macron after his discussion with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Paris. Several Western countries, including France, have officially acknowledged a Palestinian state. This decision was influenced by their dissatisfaction with Israel's actions in Gaza and a desire to push for a two-state solution to the ongoing conflict. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered by the U. S. , has been in place since October. However, Israel has repeatedly dismissed the idea of Palestinian statehood. Macron revealed that France and the Palestinian Authority will establish a joint committee. This group will tackle the legal aspects of drafting a new constitution. Macron mentioned that Abbas had already presented a draft constitution to him. The goal is to finalize all the necessary conditions for a State of Palestine. Additionally, France will provide 100 million euros in humanitarian aid to Gaza for the year 2025. Abbas emphasized their commitment to a culture of dialogue and peace. He expressed the desire for a democratic, unarmed state that upholds the rule of law, transparency, justice, pluralism, and power rotation. Abbas also appreciated the efforts of U. S. President Donald Trump and global partners. These efforts aim to end the fighting in Gaza and move towards a lasting peace. This includes disarming militant groups like Hamas. The recognition of a Palestinian state by France, Britain, Canada, and Australia aligns them with over 140 other countries. These countries support the Palestinians' goal of establishing an independent homeland in territories currently occupied by Israel. However, U. S. President Donald Trump criticized this wave of recognition. He echoed Israel's stance that recognizing a Palestinian state would reward Hamas. This is in reference to Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023, which sparked the Gaza war.