Israel and the United States unsuccessfully boycott the conference on the two-state solution
- France recognises the Palestinian state
- Pressure on Israel mounts
- ‘Hamas will not rule Palestine’
- The Arab world advocates for peace
The High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, the name given to the summit organised by France and Saudi Arabia, brought together world leaders with the aim of ending the conflict in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages as a sine qua non condition, and the unification of a single government in the enclave led by the Palestinian Authority.
However, these requests were rejected and unsuccessfully boycotted by Israel and the United States, who described the summit as ‘a circus and performative’. ‘Recognition of the Palestinian state would be a reward for Hamas,’ said White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt. They also condemned all recent recognitions.
Countries such as Germany and Italy, members of the G7, remained absent despite mass demonstrations denouncing the ‘genocide in Gaza’.
France recognises the Palestinian state
During the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron formally recognised the Palestinian state before the United Nations, becoming the latest president to do so in the latest wave of countries to join this cause, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Monaco, Australia, Belgium, Monaco and Portugal.
'We have gathered here because the time for peace has come. Today, I declare that France recognises the Palestinian state. It is up to all of us to do everything in our power to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution,' Macron said in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Finally, Macron announced the establishment of an embassy in the future State of Palestine, provided that the terrorist organisation Hamas releases all hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
This decision was strongly embraced by French society and symbolised by hundreds of Palestinian flags hung from balconies and by the image of the Palestinian and Israeli flags with a white dove, the international symbol of peace, between them on the Eiffel Tower.
Pressure on Israel mounts
International pressure on Israel as a result of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by the incursions of the Israeli Defence Forces and the veto on humanitarian aid is becoming increasingly evident.
It has taken more than 65,000 Palestinians killed, including more than 20,000 children and women, during the two years of conflict for Western leaders to take a clear stance: the only path to peace is a two-state solution in which Israel and Palestine can coexist.
Disrupting peace in the Middle East, one of the most tense regions in the world, is a side effect that the world cannot afford. In order to avoid this scenario, more than 151 of 193 countries have voted in favour of a peaceful two-state solution.
One of the most forceful leaders was Spanish President of the Government Pedro Sánchez, who called for ‘the Palestinian State to be a full member of the United Nations’.
‘Hamas will not rule Palestine’
With the intention of boycotting the conference, the United States and Israel vetoed the presence of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. However, Abbas was able to participate remotely.
Abbas stated that ‘Hamas will have no role in the government, and both Hamas and other factions must surrender their weapons to the Palestinian Authority, and we reaffirm our condemnation of the crimes of the occupation and also condemn the killing and capture of civilians, including what Hamas committed on 7 October 2023’.
The Arab world advocates for peace
As co-organiser alongside France, Saudi Arabia, representing the Gulf countries, urged through Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan that those nations ‘take the historic step to implement the two-state solution and achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East’.
Although the recognition has no direct consequences for the Palestinian population, it is a step towards the Palestinian Authority achieving observer status, which would prevent its membership from being vetoed.
