Macron: Peace would require hostages be freed, Hamas disarmed, PA reformed

Rossella Tercatin is The Times of Israel's archaeology and religions reporter.

French President Emmanuel Macron sends a video message to the People’s Peace Summit at International Convention Center in Jerusalem on May 9, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel)
French President Emmanuel Macron sends a video message to the People’s Peace Summit at International Convention Center in Jerusalem on May 9, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel)

French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the People’s Peace Summit in Jerusalem, organized by almost 60 grassroots organizations, in a video message.

“Your mobilization is a signal of hope in a time marked by pain, fear and misunderstanding that live in all of us since the terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, and the tragedy that struck the Palestinian people in Gaza,” says Macron.

The French leader highlights that France lost the highest number of citizens after Israel in the Hamas onslaught and remembers the many peace activists killed by the terrorists.

Macron says that “France will always stand with builders of peace.”

He says that in this spirit, he will co-chair a conference for the two-state solution with Saudi Arabia in June. He says that the release of hostages, disarmament of Hamas and reform of the Palestinian Authority are “prerequisites” to achieve a long-lasting peace.

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