In an interview with the media Brut on Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot outlined the French vision of a long-term peace process in the Middle East. According to him, a ceasefire in Gaza should not be an end in itself, but the starting point for a lasting political solution.
“We very much hope that this agreement can be reached,” said the minister, as negotiations for a truce enter their final phase according to Qatar, which plays a key mediating role alongside the United States and the Egypt.
In Doha, indirect talks between Israel and Hamas intensified, with the aim of reaching an agreement combining a ceasefire and the release of hostages. This acceleration comes one week before Donald Trump’s inauguration at the White House on January 20, a major political change which could influence the dynamics of the negotiations.
Barrot’s declaration reaffirms France’s historic position in favor of the creation of two states, considered the only viable solution for lasting peace in the region. For the head of French diplomacy, the establishment of a truce would represent “the first step towards a political solution” allowing the peaceful coexistence of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
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