France is leading diplomatic efforts to formulate a comprehensive agreement that includes a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of Israeli prisoners, and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, in exchange for normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. This agreement does not require Israel to explicitly declare its support for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

This came according to what Haaretz reported on Tuesday evening, which stated that the French vision also includes the establishment of a mechanism that guarantees Israel the ability to carry out military operations in Gaza "when necessary," similar to the US-French monitoring mechanism in place in Lebanon following the war.

In this context, the newspaper reported that France and "other international parties" are holding talks with Egypt about the possibility of the latter receiving a number of Gaza Strip residents for a "limited" period during the reconstruction phase. In exchange, Cairo would receive economic incentives, including a partial write-off of its foreign debt and an expanded role in the Gaza Strip's reconstruction process.

According to the report, Paris aims to formulate an understanding that satisfies Saudi Arabia on the one hand, and allows the current Israeli government to engage in the process without a clear obligation to establish a Palestinian state. France is working "through public and secret diplomatic channels" with countries such as Turkey, Iran, and Egypt to advance the issue of prisoner release, which Paris considers a "top priority," as a first step within the initiative.

According to the newspaper, France views the release of prisoners and the expansion of humanitarian aid as a prerequisite for a comprehensive ceasefire. The newspaper quoted Macron's advisor on Israeli-Palestinian affairs, Ofer Bronstein, as saying that the French president is in almost daily contact with regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad, and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed.

He stated that Paris is also working through direct and indirect channels in Egypt, Turkey, and Iran to help complete a prisoner exchange deal, which France considers a necessary first step to calm the situation and open the door to political progress.

Bronstein also emphasized that his country seeks to reach a formula that reconciles Saudi interests on the one hand and the positions of the current Israeli government on the other, particularly regarding the possibility of normalization without Tel Aviv making any actual concessions regarding recognition of a Palestinian state.

The French president's advisor said that Paris' vision includes recognition of a Palestinian state by a number of countries, along with recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries.

He declined to disclose the names of the countries with which France is in contact on this matter, but listed a number of countries that he said "have approached this in the past and could be pushed further in the future," including, he said, "Mauritania, Qatar, Indonesia, and Malaysia."

Earlier on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call, during which Macron expressed hope for a decision within the "nearing hours" allowing the resumption of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Macron urged Netanyahu to "release more hostages," according to a post on his official Twitter account. Paris plans to hold an international conference in New York next June, in partnership with Saudi Arabia, to advance this proposal based on "progress towards a two-state solution."