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Several countries, including Britain and Canada, along with the European Union and Arab League, expressed their dedication to revive the two-state solution to put an end to Israel’s destructive war on Gaza.
Representatives from different countries met in New York on Monday to discuss the revival of the two-state solution at the United Nations Headquarters. The conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, established eight high-level working groups to propose solutions connected to the two-state solution.
The conference led to a seven-page declaration, named the “New York Declaration,” that outlines a phased plan urging countries to recognize the state of Palestine and calls for Hamas to disarm. The declaration also envisions the Palestinian Authority governing Gaza.
“In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State,” stated the declaration.
The declaration strongly supports the deployment of a “temporary international stabilisation mission” under the UN Security Council to offer protection to Palestinians, oversee the administrative transfer to the Palestinian Authority, and monitor the ceasefire.
The document also condemns the deadly 7 October attack by Hamas, where the militant group killed around 1200 people and took approximately 250 individuals hostage. This marks the first time Arab nations have condemned Hamas.
Additionally, the declaration condemns Israel’s military operation in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 60,000 Palestinians and a devastating humanitarian crisis. Co-chairs France and Saudi Arabia called upon all 193 UN member states to back this document before the start of the 80th UN General Assembly in mid-September.
However, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposes a two-state solution and dismissed the meeting due to nationalistic and security concerns. Israel’s close ally, the United States, also boycotted the event.
France and the United Kingdom have previously expressed their intention to recognize the state of Palestine, aligning themselves with the 147 UN member states that have already done so.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced last week that France would recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, becoming the first G7 country and permanent UN Security Council member to do so.
On Tuesday, the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that Britain would recognize the state of Palestine before the September meeting, provided that Israel fails to agree to a ceasefire and a long-term peace process in the upcoming eight weeks.
