File photo of France president, Emmanuel Macron
Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Paris on Tuesday to discuss the "full implementation" of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, the Elysee said.
The meeting comes a month into a fragile truce between Hamas and Israel, following two years of war triggered by the Palestinian militant group's October 7, 2023 attack against Israel.
The two leaders "will discuss the next steps in the peace plan, particularly in the areas of security, governance and reconstruction", said the French presidency.
Brokered by US President Donald Trump, the October 10 ceasefire has been tested by fresh Israeli strikes and claims of Palestinian attacks on Israeli soldiers.
Trump said last week he expected an International Stabilisation Force tasked with monitoring the ceasefire to be in Gaza "very soon".
The meeting also follows Macron's decision in September to recognise a Palestinian state at a United Nations summit -- a move the Palestinian Authority hailed as "historic and courageous".
During talks with Abbas, Macron is expected to discuss the need to maintain humanitarian aid access for Gaza and to address changes within the Palestinian Authority.
Reforming the governing body is essential for a "democratic and sovereign Palestinian state, living in peace and security alongside Israel", the Elysee said.
