"We French and Europeans are ready to contribute to these deliberations and to this plan," Macron said.

Macron said he and other European leaders would discuss it on Thursday at the European Council, "among ourselves and with the Secretary General of the United Nations".

France, Britain, Germany and Italy earlier this month backed the plan, hailing it as a "realistic path" for Gaza to return to the control of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority after nearly two decades of Hamas rule.

Israel and the United States have rejected the proposal.

It came after US President Donald Trump triggered global outrage when he suggested the US "take over" Gaza and turn it into the "Riviera of the Middle East", while forcing its Palestinian inhabitants to relocate to Egypt or Jordan.

- 'Palestinian state' -

Long term, said Macron, work should focus on "a Palestinian state to finally give back Palestinians their legitimate right", though this should come with the "necessary security guarantees for Israel".

Abdullah said: "A political solution that leads to peace on the basis of a two-state solution is the only way to guarantee security for Palestinians, Israelis in the region."

The so-called two-state solution would see a new Palestinian state live peacefully side by side with an Israeli one.

It was part of a peace plan in the 1990s but Israel has since only deepened its occupation of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, the bulk of the land which was to make up a future Palestinian state.

The 2023 Hamas attack on Israel resulted in 1,218 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.

Israel's retaliation in Gaza has killed at least 49,547 people, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the territory's health ministry.

Of the 251 hostages seized during the attack, 58 are still in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

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