Resigned French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced on Sunday that it is “very likely” that the European Union will increase its presence in the Gaza Strip once a ceasefire is established, ahead of the peace summit scheduled in Egypt.

Le Drian said in a television interview on France 3 channel that “Europe is already present through two missions” in the Palestinian territories. He added that the first mission, which is tasked with monitoring at the Rafah crossing, “will play a very important role at the crossing points.”

The second mission, the European police mission, will support the training of Palestinian police officers.

The minister pointed to the importance of training police officers to maintain security in the Gaza Strip after the withdrawal of Hamas and the Israeli army from it.

He confirmed that the international force the international community intends to establish temporarily “will not have the task of maintaining security,” but “this will be done by Palestinian police officers who need to be trained.”

In addition to the European Union, Turkey and Indonesia have expressed their desire to participate in this international force.

Two days ago, the spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry told Al Arabiya and Al Hadath that US President Donald Trump’s plan regarding Gaza contains many provisions from the French-Saudi initiative and explicitly mentions this initiative by name.

He explained that among the very important provisions taken by the US plan from the French-Saudi initiative are: the formation of a transitional authority in Gaza, the formation of an international force for stability, and the rejection of any departure of the sector’s residents.

He also added that France was in full and very close coordination with the Americans before and after the Paris meeting on Gaza.

The spokesperson noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was scheduled to attend the Paris meeting but did not come in the end due to the accelerated pace of negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, and it was natural for him to stay alongside President Trump.

It is worth noting that US President announced last Wednesday evening an agreement between Israel and Hamas on the first phase of the ceasefire plan in Gaza and prisoner exchange, after days of indirect negotiations held in Sharm El-Sheikh under the auspices of mediators (Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, with Turkish participation), which opened a hopeful door for thousands of Palestinians trapped in Gaza after a devastating war lasting two years.

Meanwhile, about 53% of the Gaza Strip will remain under Israeli control, with the second phase of Trump’s plan later involving withdrawal from the remaining areas up to the buffer zone along the sector, estimated to be about 15% of the Palestinian territory.