French President Emmanuel Macron issued a stern warning on Tuesday, declaring any Israeli annexation plans in the West Bank a “red line” that would certainly provoke a significant European reaction. Macron made these remarks during a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Paris, one month after a fragile ceasefire ended two years of intense conflict triggered in October 2023.
Abbas, the long-standing head of the Palestinian Authority, currently manages limited control over parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank; officials consider him a key figure to assume governance in Gaza under the current deal.
Macron, whose country recognized a Palestinian state in September, specifically warned against unilateral Israeli actions following a recent, troubling uptick in violence across the Palestinian territory.
“Plans for partial or total annexation, whether legal or de facto, constitute a red line to which we will respond strongly with our European partners,” Macron confirmed during a joint press conference with Abbas, firmly emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
Consequently, the French president strongly condemned increasing settlement projects, noting the acceleration of settlement projects reaches new heights, immediately threatening the West Bank’s stability and simultaneously constituting explicit violations of international law.
Violence and the Path to Reform
Violence across the West Bank has dramatically soared since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. Israeli forces or settlers have killed at least 1,002 Palestinians, including militants, since the conflict began, according to the Palestinian health ministry’s figures.
Conversely, Palestinian attacks in the West Bank resulted in the deaths of 43 Israelis, including soldiers, during this same period, according to official Israeli statistics. Following their meeting to discuss the Gaza ceasefire’s next steps, Macron and Abbas immediately announced the creation of a joint committee dedicated “for the consolidation of the state of Palestine,” the French leader stated.
Abbas renewed his personal commitment to necessary “reforms,” which include holding “presidential and parliamentary elections after the end of the war,” confirming they are nearing completion of a provisional constitution draft.
Since October 2023, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 69,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
