Post by : Rameen Ariff

The United States’ closest European and Arab allies gathered in Paris on Thursday to discuss Gaza’s post-war future, just hours after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and a prisoner-hostage swap brokered under US President Donald Trump’s plan.

The landmark agreement, signed on Thursday, calls for Israel to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages. While the ceasefire offers hope for peace, world leaders are now focusing on how to turn this temporary halt in violence into a long-term solution.

The Paris meeting brought together key European and Arab foreign ministers to discuss core issues such as security, post-war governance in Gaza, reconstruction, and humanitarian aid. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told reporters that countries had identified the areas where they were willing to contribute and promised to share their plans with the United States for integration into the broader peace strategy.

“We discussed the major fields to which we intend to contribute: security, governance, reconstruction, and humanitarian aid,” Barrot said.

The UN General Assembly last month endorsed a declaration urging Hamas to surrender and disarm while outlining steps toward a two-state solution. While parts of this declaration are reflected in Trump’s plan, European and Arab officials stressed that gaps remain, which need to be addressed for lasting peace.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasised the importance of acting quickly:“This is the best chance we have right now. But we need to work for the plan after the war, so that it would be sustainable.”

Key Attendees and Diplomatic Efforts

Among the attendees were Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, a key mediator in the ceasefire, as well as Egyptian and Turkish foreign ministers who played pivotal roles in convincing Hamas to accept the deal.

A major focus of the discussions was the establishment of an international stabilisation force under a United Nations mandate. Several countries, including Indonesia, Italy, and Azerbaijan, expressed interest in contributing to such a force.“I told all the ministers that we want to be major players—not just in security, but also in reconstruction,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.

France had earlier proposed a phased plan to train and equip 10,000 Palestinian Authority security forces. While Hamas currently controls Gaza, Trump’s plan envisions a future role for the Palestinian Authority in maintaining security and governance.

The multinational stabilisation force would gradually deploy once a peace deal is in place. It would monitor the ceasefire, oversee Hamas’ disarmament, and support the transfer of security responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority. France and Britain have already started talks at the UN regarding the mandate for this force.

A European diplomat highlighted the next steps:“The Americans will eventually need the Arabs and Europeans to finance, rebuild, and help provide security.”

What This Means for Gaza

The Paris meeting underscores the international community’s commitment to stabilising Gaza after the conflict. With contributions from Europe, Arab nations, and the US, the plan aims to ensure security, rebuild infrastructure, and provide humanitarian aid, paving the way for a more lasting peace.

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