Abbas and Macron urge Gaza ceasefire as Hamas seeks hostages deal

Hamas offers full hostage release if Israel agrees to end the genocide, amid calls from France and Palestine for peace.

Smoke rises as Palestinians flee from Rafah and Khan Yunis amid continued Israeli attacks in Gaza City, Gaza, on April 14, 2025. Photo by Doaa Albaz/Anadolu

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and French President Emmanuel Macron have made a coordinated appeal for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza, underlining the worsening humanitarian crisis and the escalating toll of Israel’s military offensive. The joint call came during a phone conversation between the two leaders on Monday, as Hamas signaled its willingness to release all hostages if Israel commits to ending the genocide.

This major diplomatic push, led by two prominent international figures, reflects the growing pressure on all sides to bring a resolution to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Ceasefire call amidst deepening Gaza conflict

Since the collapse of the previous ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in mid-March, the Gaza Strip has been ravaged by relentless Israeli bombardments and ground operations. According to humanitarian sources, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced, while aid convoys remain stalled at the border. The United Nations and numerous NGOs have warned of imminent famine and a full-scale collapse of health services in the region.

In their phone call, Abbas and Macron “emphasised the urgent need for a ceasefire, the acceleration of humanitarian aid delivery, and the rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land,” as reported by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. This statement reflects shared concerns about the demographic impact of the genocide and the need for sustained international pressure to de-escalate hostilities.

Macron later posted on social media that “France is fully mobilised for the liberation of all hostages, a return to a durable ceasefire and immediate access for humanitarian aid into Gaza.” His post reiterated France’s commitment to a multilateral solution and to the principles of international humanitarian law.

Vision for post-war Gaza and Palestinian statehood

Beyond the immediate ceasefire appeal, Abbas and Macron discussed a broader political framework for the day after the genocide ends. They agreed on the importance of reviving the two-state solution based on international legitimacy, with the Palestinian Authority (PA) assuming governance responsibilities in Gaza once the conflict ends.

Macron stressed that the Palestinian Authority must be reformed to effectively lead Gaza in a post-Hamas era. “It is essential to set a framework for the day after: disarm and sideline Hamas, define credible governance and reform the Palestinian Authority,” he said. Macron's remarks reveal France’s position that Hamas should no longer play a political or military role in Gaza’s future, and that Western governments must support PA reforms to ensure political stability.

Hamas signals willingness for hostages deal

In a potentially significant development, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu announced that the group is ready to release all hostages in exchange for a “serious prisoner swap” and clear guarantees that Israel will halt its military operations. “The issue is not the number of captives,” said Nunu. “The problem is that the occupation is reneging on its commitments, blocking the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and continuing the war.”

Nunu also confirmed that Hamas’s core military capabilities are not part of any negotiation, saying, “The weapons of the resistance are not up for negotiation.” His statement followed closed-door meetings between Hamas, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators in Cairo. The group is pressing for international guarantees to compel Israel to respect any future agreement.

This statement comes after a failed first phase of a previous truce that began on January 19 and included several hostage-prisoner exchanges. That deal ultimately broke down after two months, largely due to disagreements over the transition to the second phase, which had been outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden.

France moves toward Palestinian state recognition

In another key move that has stirred international debate, Macron announced last week that France could formally recognise a Palestinian state within the coming months. “We must move towards recognition, and we will do so in the coming months,” he said in a televised interview.

Such a move would represent a major diplomatic shift. While nearly 150 countries already recognise Palestinian statehood, France would be the most powerful European Union member to do so, potentially influencing others to follow. The idea, however, has provoked harsh criticism from Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded with a strongly worded statement, saying, “President Macron is gravely mistaken in continuing to promote the idea of a Palestinian state in the heart of our land — a state whose sole aspiration is the destruction of Israel.” Netanyahu’s position reflects Israel’s longstanding objection to unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, arguing it undermines direct negotiations.

Public reaction in Israel has also been skeptical. An Israeli teacher, Nurit Sperling, told AFP in French that Macron “absolutely shouldn't have done that,” referring to France’s possible recognition. She added, “I think we saw on October 7 that it’s not feasible. We can’t live like this, next to them, in this way,” citing the deadly Hamas attacks that triggered the war.

Regional leaders rally behind two-state solution

The diplomatic push for a long-term solution is gaining traction among Arab leaders as well. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met in Doha on the same day as the Abbas-Macron call. According to a joint statement, the two leaders “emphasised the centrality of the Palestinian cause as the foremost Arab issue.”

Doha and Cairo have played critical roles in past ceasefire talks and hostage negotiations, often acting as intermediaries between Hamas and Western nations. Their ongoing involvement is seen as vital to brokering a durable end to the conflict and to shaping the post-war political structure in Gaza.

International pressure mounts on Israel

Despite increasing calls for restraint, Israel has continued its offensive in several areas of Gaza, including Rafah, where over a million displaced people have sought shelter. Israeli officials argue that military pressure remains necessary to eliminate Hamas’s capabilities and secure the return of hostages.

However, humanitarian groups warn that continued bombardment could result in mass civilian casualties and irreparable damage to the region’s infrastructure. The European Union, United Nations, and countries like Spain, Ireland, and Norway have joined France in demanding an immediate halt to hostilities and unhindered humanitarian access.

Meanwhile, the United States remains cautious on the issue of Palestinian statehood. While Washington supports the two-state solution in principle, it continues to resist unilateral recognition efforts and prefers a negotiated path that includes security guarantees for Israel.

A defining moment for peace

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron in the West Bank city of Ramallah on October 24, 2023. Photo by Christophe Ena/AFP

The Abbas and Macron Gaza ceasefire initiative represents one of the most coordinated international calls for peace since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. It reflects both urgency and strategic planning — an attempt to de-escalate violence while laying the groundwork for a sustainable political future.

As pressure mounts on all sides — from Hamas’s hostage proposal to France’s potential recognition of Palestinian statehood — the region stands at a turning point. Whether these diplomatic efforts can translate into action remains uncertain, but the stakes have never been higher.

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