Amélia Lakrafi, Deputy of the French National Assembly and Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF).
DOHA: As the first phase of the ceasefire agreement went into effect in Gaza, Deputy of the French National Assembly and Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF), Amélia Lakrafi, commended Qatar’s decisive mediation and leadership, describing it as “essential and complementary” to regional peace efforts.
In an interview with The Peninsula in correspondence, Lakrafi highlighted that the recent truce in Gaza “would not have been possible without the joint engagement of Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, whose mediation and coordination were decisive from the earliest negotiations on hostage releases and regional stabilisation.”
“I wish to sincerely thank both Qatar and Saudi Arabia for their leadership and constant commitment to peace. These are nations resolutely oriented toward dialogue and the future,” she said. Lakrafi commended Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for their “personal commitment and their leadership in restoring communication and regional coordination.” She emphasised that “together, Doha and Riyadh have become pillars of regional mediation, trusted by all sides precisely because they speak to everyone.”
Deputy of the French National Assembly and Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF), Amélia Lakrafi represented France at meetings held alongside the 2025 UN General Assembly in New York.
According to Lakrafi, “France recognises and values this ability to bring people together, calm tensions, and build bridges. Their humanitarian engagement, particularly in Gaza, shows that the peace of tomorrow will depend on these bridges of dialogue and solidarity between peoples.”
Lakrafi was part of the French delegation that attended several meetings held alongside the 2025 UN General Assembly in New York. When President of the French Republic H E Emmanuel Macron announced France’s recognition of State of Palestine at the UN, Lakrafi described it as a profoundly moving moment. After years of advocating for this cause, as a French parliamentarian, a daughter of immigrants, and a Muslim woman, she felt deep personal emotion.
Lakrafi described it as “a courageous decision and a crucial step toward the two-state solution,” she added, “This recognition, driven jointly by France and Saudi Arabia, is part of a shared effort to prepare ‘the day after’ a credible political pathway toward lasting peace. It is not merely symbolic. It reflects the deep conviction that peace and justice must advance together. There can be no peace without justice.”
Amélia Lakrafi (right), Deputy of the French National Assembly and Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF).
Lakrafi noted that France must continue to work “closely with its regional partners such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan to consolidate peace, stability, and reconstruction,” adding that this diplomatic collaboration “has accelerated significantly over the past year.”
As Secretary-General of the APF, Lakrafi also detailed initiatives aimed at strengthening Palestinian institutions. “At the APF, our conviction is clear: democracy cannot be decreed, it must be built. And it is best built when it is accompanied, not imposed,” she said.
She revealed that, together with Dr. Ali Al Marri, former Attorney-General of Qatar, she had launched the initiative “Parliaments for Peace”, connecting lawmakers who believe “dialogue between peoples must always precede dialogue between governments.”
Referring to the role APF and the European Union play in the reconstruction of Gaza and in supporting the well-being of its people, Lakrafi said that reconstruction must go beyond material rebuilding.
“Rebuilding schools, hospitals, and infrastructure is essential and the Arab League has already prepared a reconstruction plan valued at €53bn, an encouraging but still insufficient starting point.
“We must also heal the invisible wounds. The APF can mobilise its parliamentary network to coordinate aid, promote good governance, and ensure transparency in fund allocation. The European Union, meanwhile, has the technical and financial capacity to support this reconstruction, notably through education and mental health programmes for children and families affected by war,” she said.
Lakrafi called for continued international engagement in Gaza’s reconstruction. “Rebuilding schools, hospitals, and infrastructure is essential… but we must also heal the invisible wounds,” she said, stressing that “investing in governance means investing in peace.” In conclusion she shared a message of hope: “Never give up on peace. Dialogue is not a sign of weakness, but of courage… Peace is not the silence of arms, it is the voice of conscience finally being heard.”
