Last week, the United Nations in New York held the “High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.” The July 28-30 conference was co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. Approximately 160 of the 193 UN member states and the Palestinian delegation participated in the conference, while Israel and the United States boycotted. The goal of the conference was to reaffirm the international consensus on a peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and take concrete steps towards the implementation of the two-state solution.
The conference was initially planned for June 2025, but the Twelve-Day War between Israel and Iran forced the co-chairs to postpone. Notably, ahead of the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would officially recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th UN General Assembly in September, and conference participants called on other countries to follow suit. On the second day of the conference, the United Kingdom joined France as it announced that it would recognize Palestine by September unless Israel abides by a Gaza ceasefire and commits to a two-state solution. Another significant outcome of the conference was the signing of the “New York Declaration,” which marked the first time that all 22 member states of the Arab League jointly condemned the October 7 Hamas massacre and called for Hamas to disarm. The declaration outlines a phased roadmap for ending the conflict and establishing an independent Palestinian state.
On May 23, a preparatory meeting was held in New York to decide on conference themes and finalize arrangements, and on June 13, another preparatory meeting was held in Paris. Representatives from Israeli and Palestinian civil societies gathered at the Paris Peace Forum and produced the “Paris Call for the Two-State Solution.”
Before the conference, Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas sent a letter to President Macron, reaffirming his commitment to a two-state solution. The historic letter calls for an end to the war in Gaza, an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, and an end to the Israeli-Palestinian “conflict once and for all.” Crucially, the PA letter unequivocally condemns October 7 and demands that Hamas disarm and immediately release all remaining Israeli hostages from Gaza. Abbas also committed to PA reforms in the areas of governance, finance, women and youth participation, and incitement – including an overhaul of the controversial PA prisoner payment system. Lastly, the PA chairman wrote to Macron that he plans to hold elections within a year.
The “New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution” was signed by all 22 Arab League states, 27 European Union states, and 17 other countries. UN member states have until the General Assembly session in September to endorse the declaration. Most notably, the “New York Declaration” unequivocally condemns October 7 and calls for:
This declaration is unprecedented in that the entire Arab League condemned October 7 while ruling out Hamas rule of the Gaza Strip on the day after the war. It also includes virtually all of Israel’s conditions for a two-state solution, including a demilitarized Palestinian state, while promising Israel full regional integration in return. The Israeli vision of transforming the region together with Arab world acceptance of Israel is clearly laid out by this historic declaration.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon called the UN conference a “political circus against the State of Israel,” falsely claiming that participants did not address the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza or the removal of Hamas from Gaza. Section 8 of the “New York Declaration” reads, “Hamas must release all hostages,” and Section 11 of the declaration reads, “Hamas must end its rule in Gaza.” Danon also accused declaration signatories of “legitimizing terror,” i.e. rewarding Hamas with statehood following October 7.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry welcomed the UN conference, where the Palestinian Authority was represented by Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian. Meanwhile, US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce issued a statement rejecting the conference as a “reward for terrorism” that emboldens Hamas and “keeps hostages trapped in tunnels.” This is despite repeated condemnations of Hamas and October 7 throughout the conference.