UN Conference Reignites Two-State Solution Talks Amid Ongoing Gaza Conflict

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

A major diplomatic conference has opened at United Nations Headquarters in New York, aiming to revive the stalled two-state solution and address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The high-level summit, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, brings together ministers and envoys from dozens of countries—but notably without participation from the United States and Israel, who have declined to attend.

Initially set for June, the conference was delayed due to Israel’s military operations in Iran. It now resumes as part of a UN General Assembly-endorsed initiative launched last year to outline a viable path toward an independent Palestinian state and guarantee Israel’s security within recognized borders.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced France’s intent to formally recognize the State of Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September. Speaking on Sunday, Barrot urged other nations to follow suit and highlighted the importance of Arab states condemning Hamas and advocating for its complete disarmament.

“We will call on our international partners in New York to join us in formally supporting Palestinian statehood,” Barrot stated.

The United States and Israel have chosen not to attend the conference, voicing concerns over the agenda’s perceived leniency toward Hamas, which has been engaged in a deadly war with Israel since October 2023.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson dismissed the conference as a “gift to Hamas,” suggesting that it undercuts ongoing ceasefire negotiations. Meanwhile, Israel’s UN mission criticized the summit for not prioritizing the release of Israeli hostages and for failing to condemn Hamas more strongly.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that France will formally recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September. Barrot also called on Arab nations to support disarmament of Hamas and encouraged the international community to follow France’s lead in recognizing Palestinian statehood.

> “We aim to build lasting peace and encourage others to join us in supporting the two-state solution,” Barrot said in his address.

The backdrop to the renewed peace efforts is a devastating war in Gaza,where, according to local health officials, nearly 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes. The conflict began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages, based on Israeli figures.

In the aftermath, Israel intensified its military response, triggering one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the region’s recent history.

While the absence of the U.S. and Israel casts a shadow over the proceedings, UN officials reaffirmed their commitment to the two-state solution, which envisions a secure and independent Palestinian state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza alongside a recognized State of Israel.

Last year, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution supporting Palestinian eligibility for full membership, passing with 143 votes in favor and only nine opposed, despite a U.S. Security Council veto weeks earlier.

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