Two-state solution conference kicks off amid calls to halt Gaza war

The United Nations conference on a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution kicked off today, Monday, in New York, under the auspices of France and Saudi Arabia.

In the opening session, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called for the conference to be a "turning point" for the implementation of the two-state solution, stressing that his country had unleashed unstoppable momentum toward a political solution in the Middle East.

Barrow also called for an end to the war and suffering in the Gaza Strip and the start of a permanent ceasefire, noting that "it is unacceptable for children and women to be targeted while seeking aid" in the besieged enclave.

He stressed that the transition must be made from the end of the war on Gaza to an end to the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

pivotal station

For his part, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud considered the conference a "pivotal milestone" toward activating the two-state solution and ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

He commended French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement of his country's intention to recognize the State of Palestine, stressing that achieving stability in the region begins with granting the Palestinian people their rights.

He also called for an immediate end to the "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza caused by Israeli violations, stressing that the Arab Peace Initiative is a comprehensive basis for any just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.

Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi affirmed during the conference that the State of Qatar seeks to promote the concepts of peace and justice through a culture of dialogue and coexistence, believing that peace narratives must be consistent with the principles of international law and the two-state solution.

He expressed his hope that the conference would contribute to supporting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.

For his part, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a speech marking the occasion, considered the two-state solution the only framework rooted in international law, endorsed by the General Assembly, and internationally supported.

He warned that this solution was now "more distant than ever," calling for the conference to be a turning point in ending the Israeli occupation and achieving peace in the region.

He also considered the current conflict in Gaza to be destabilizing for the region and the entire world, and that ending it requires political will. He also condemned the gradual annexation of the occupied West Bank, which he deemed "illegal" and called for its halt.

Postponement of the conference

It's worth noting that the international conference on the two-state solution was scheduled to be held in New York from June 17 to 20 to develop a roadmap leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state. However, the Israeli attack on Iran on June 13 prompted several Middle Eastern delegations to withdraw from attending, leading to its postponement.

According to diplomatic sources, the administration of US President Donald Trump has exerted extensive diplomatic pressure to prevent governments from participating in the conference, sending telegrams urging them not to attend.

The conference comes as Israel, with US support, continues its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. More than 204,000 Palestinians have been killed and wounded, most of them children and women, and over 10,000 are missing. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and a famine has claimed the lives of many.

Many view the conference as a last-ditch international attempt to revive the political process toward a two-state solution, given the deadlock in negotiations and the ongoing aggression against Gaza and the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem.