UN conference backs two-state solution, calls on Israel to commit to a
Palestinian state
[July 30, 2025]
By EDITH M. LEDERER and FARNOUSH AMIRI
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — High-level representatives at a U.N. conference on
Tuesday urged Israel to commit to a Palestinian state and gave
“unwavering support” to a two-state solution, signaling widespread
international determination to end one of the world’s longest conflicts.
The “New York Declaration” sets out a phased plan to end the nearly
eight-decade conflict and the ongoing war in Gaza. The plan would
culminate with an independent, demilitarized Palestine living side by
side peacefully with Israel, and their eventual integration into the
wider Mideast region.
The meeting is taking place amid the latest reports that starvation and
famine are taking place in Gaza, and growing global outrage at
Palestinians not getting food due to Israeli policies and practices –
which Israel denies. Planned for two days, the meeting was extended into
Wednesday because representatives of about 50 countries have not spoken.
Israel rejects the notion of two states
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes a two-state solution
and has rejected the meeting on both nationalistic and security grounds.
Israel's close ally, the United States, is also boycotting, calling the
meeting “unproductive and ill-timed.”
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon late Tuesday sharply criticized the
some 125 countries participating in the conference, saying “there are
those in the world who fight terrorists and extremist forces and then
there are those who turn a blind eye to them or resort to appeasement.”
The conference, which was postponed from June and downgraded from world
leaders to ministers, for the first time established eight high-level
working groups to examine and make proposals on wide-ranging topics
related to a two-state solution.
The declaration’s plan says conference co-chairs France and Saudi
Arabia, the European Union and Arab League, and 15 countries that led
the working groups agreed “to take collective action to end the war in
Gaza.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan urged the rest of the
193 U.N. member nations “to support this document” before the start of
the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly in mid-September.
The declaration condemns “the attacks committed by Hamas against
civilians” in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. It marks a first
condemnation by Arab nations of Hamas, whose attacks killed about 1,200,
mainly Israeli civilians, and whose militants took about 250 people
hostage. Some 50 are still being held.
The declaration condemns Israel's attacks on civilians and civilian
infrastructure in Gaza and its “siege and starvation, which have
produced a devastating humanitarian catastrophe and protection crisis.”
Israel’s offensive against Hamas has killed over 60,000 Palestinians,
according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between
civilians and combatants.
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Canada Foreign Minister Anita Anand addresses the United Nations
General Assembly, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Plan would give Palestinian Authority governing power
The conference plan envisions the Palestinian Authority governing and
controlling all Palestinian territory, with a transitional
administrative committee immediately established under its umbrella
after a ceasefire in 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,” the
declaration says.
It also supports deployment of “a temporary international stabilization
mission” operating under U.N. auspices to protect Palestinian civilians,
support the transfer of security to the Palestinian Authority and
provide security guarantees for Palestine and Israel — “including
monitoring of the ceasefire and of a future peace agreement.”
The declaration urges countries to recognize the state of Palestine,
calling this “an essential and indispensable component of the
achievement of the two-state solution.” Without naming Israel but
clearly referring to it, the document says “illegal unilateral actions
are posing an existential threat to the realization of the independent
state of Palestine.”
French President Emmanuel Macron announced ahead of the meeting that his
country will recognize the state of Palestine at the General Assembly's
meeting of world leaders in late September. The French Foreign Ministry
on Tuesday pushed back on Israeli claims that recognition of Palestine
would “reward” Hamas, saying that “on the contrary, it has contributed
to isolating Hamas.”
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday that
Britain would recognize the state of Palestine before September's
meeting, but would refrain if Israel agrees to a ceasefire and long-term
peace process in the next eight weeks. The countries are now the biggest
Western powers and the only two members of the Group of Seven major
industrialized nations to make such a pledge.
A separate one-page statement titled the “New York Call" was circulated
by France, but the language was considered too strong, especially for
Arab nations. It was only approved by 15 Western nations, including six
that have recognized the state of Palestine and nine others: Andorra,
Australia, Canada, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal and
San Marino.
The statement, issued late Tuesday, says the 15 countries have
recognized, “expressed or express the willingness or the positive
consideration ... to recognize the state of Palestine, as an essential
step towards the two-state solution, and invite all countries that have
not done so to join this call.”
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