(MENAFN) French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will accelerate its humanitarian assistance to Gaza following the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt.

Speaking to reporters at the airport after the summit on Monday, Macron expressed satisfaction with the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the release of 20 Israeli hostages by the Palestinian group.

He confirmed that all hostages had been freed and noted that aid operations in Gaza had already begun with “greater intensity than planned,” emphasizing that France would boost humanitarian activities starting Tuesday.

Macron stated that France would coordinate closely with the United States and Israel to ensure that aid delivery to Gaza proceeds without interruption or restriction.

He also announced plans to hold a humanitarian aid conference for Gaza in the coming weeks as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. “In the second phase, funds will be mobilized to rapidly restart the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza,” he said.

The French president highlighted that discussions continue over Gaza’s future governance, adding that the UN Security Council had achieved a consensus involving the Palestinian Authority and other nations to work toward a long-term political resolution. He also mentioned that technical preparations for the disarmament of Hamas would begin soon.

According to reports, US President Donald Trump recently revealed that Israel and Hamas had agreed on the first stage of a peace plan he introduced on September 29. The plan includes a Gaza ceasefire, the exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners, and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave. The first phase took effect on Friday.

The next stage of the agreement calls for forming a new governing body in Gaza, establishing a multinational peacekeeping force, and overseeing the disarmament of Hamas.

Earlier Monday, the process of releasing Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention began after Hamas freed the remaining 20 Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Since October 2023, Israeli strikes and ground operations have killed more than 67,800 Palestinians—mostly women and children—leaving Gaza severely devastated and nearly uninhabitable.

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