Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
In a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Abbas urged the international community to prioritise ending the war and addressing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
He demanded “an immediate, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire,” the full opening of crossings by Israel, and unhindered humanitarian access throughout the territory.
He said, “I wish at the outset to express the appreciation of the State of Palestine for your leadership at a time where the Palestinian people are faced with an existential threat against their lives. their most fundamental and basic rights and their very presence in their land and at a time where the prospect of peace in our region is being jeopardised.
“In the lead up to the critically important International High Level Conference for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-State solution that you will be co-chairing, I wanted to share our vision, our commitments and our expectations, as we strive together to end the Israeli occupation and the conflict and to achieve peace in our region.”
He said the Palestinian Authority was ready to take full responsibility for governance in Gaza but stressed that this was conditional on Hamas surrendering its weapons and military capabilities to the Palestinian Security Forces.
Hamas, he said, must no longer rule Gaza and should enter the political process under the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), renouncing violence and committing to peaceful democratic means.
He said, “The Palestinian people are not destined to live under occupation, nor are we and the Israelis destined to be at war. We can live in peace and security, side by side, tomorrow if we make the right decisions today.
“We need to all take the necessary bold and unprecedented steps that set us on that path. I am determined to ensure we uphold our responsibilities and count on your help to mobilise the international community to uphold its own, and ensure Israel upholds its obligations. I hope the Israeli people will seize this opportunity for peace.”
Abbas described the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel as “unacceptable and condemnable” and called for the release of all captives in Gaza.
He also demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces and proposed a reconstruction plan led by Arab and Islamic countries in partnership with international donors.
He reaffirmed support for a two-state solution and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He said, “The State of Palestine stands ready to assume sole governance and security responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, with Arab and international support.
“Hamas will no longer rule Gaza and must handover its weapons and military capabilities to the Palestinian Security Forces, which will overace their removal outside the Occupied Palestinian territory, with Arab and international support.
“The Palestinian people are entitled to live in freedom and dignity in their homeland, Palestine and Israel are entitled to exist as States, in peace and security, in conformity with international law, and all peoples are entitled to live in peace and security.
“This can only be accomplished through the realization of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side, in peace and security, with Israel.
“We are ready to conclude within a clear and binding timeline, and with international support, supervision and guarantees, a peace agreement that ends the Israeli occupation and resolves all outstanding and final status issues, leading to an end of all claims, and the achievement of just and lasting peace based on the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, including land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative.”
In his response via his verified X account, Macron praised Abbas’s letter as “a letter of hope, courage, and clarity.”
He welcomed the Palestinian Authority’s stated willingness to assume responsibility in Gaza and reiterated France’s commitment to a two-state solution.
Macron also expressed support for a political path forward that could help restore peace and security in the region, stating that the ideas outlined by Abbas deserved serious consideration.
He said, “I received a letter of hope, courage, and clarity. The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, charts a course toward a horizon of peace. A condemnation of terrorism, the release of hostages, the demilitarization of Hamas, an end to the war in Gaza, reforms, elections — a just and lasting peace for all in the region.
“He reaffirms the Palestinian people’s commitment to the two-state solution. Two peoples, two states. Security and peace.
“Concrete and unprecedented commitments that demonstrate a genuine willingness to move forward. This is a decisive moment.”