In a historic move to revive the long-stalled two-state solution, the international community has launched a high-level conference at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, aimed at turning the vision of a Palestinian state alongside Israel into reality after nearly eight decades of conflict, war, and unfulfilled promises.

The two-day conference, which began on July 28, is jointly sponsored by Saudi Arabia and France under the title "For the Peaceful Resolution of the Palestinian Issue and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution." While the US chose not to participate, it notably did not object to the initiative, signalling a subtle shift in its posture.

The event follows French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of plans to recognise the State of Palestine—a move likely to trigger wider recognition. Asked about this, US President Donald Trump said, “Let them do what they want,” which a senior European official called a sign that “the US is not making any special effort to stop the momentum.”

Dozens of foreign ministers convened at the UN to back the two-state solution, including France’s Jean-Noël Barrot, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Germany’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Florian Hahn, and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. 

Neither Israel nor the US attended. Asked if UK PM Keir Starmer might recognise Palestine like Macron, Trump replied, “I wouldn’t mind him taking that stance”—highlighting a lack of US pushback, unlike Netanyahu’s firm opposition.

In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia and France for sponsoring the event. “The Israeli–Palestinian conflict has persisted for generations, defying diplomacy and countless resolutions... defying international law,” he said, noting that the two-state solution now appears “more distant than ever.”

While he condemned “the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023 and the taking of hostages,” he also made clear, “Nothing justifies the destruction of Gaza or the starvation of its population.”

Guterres warned of the ongoing “expansion of settlements, rising settler violence against Palestinians, and the creeping annexation of the occupied West Bank,” describing it as part of a “systemic reality that is dismantling the foundations of peace in the Middle East.”

He called the conference “a rare opportunity—it can and must be a turning point, a moment that drives irreversible progress toward ending the occupation.” He reiterated the need for “two independent, democratic, and sovereign states, living side by side in peace and security, recognised by all, based on the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both.”

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stressed that the two-state solution is key to regional stability. “This conference marks a pivotal moment on the path to implementing that solution,” he said. “Stability in the region begins with granting the Palestinian people their legitimate rights.”

He welcomed Macron’s announcement and called for an immediate end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, revealing that Saudi Arabia and France had facilitated the transfer of $300mn from the World Bank to support Palestine.

French Foreign Minister Barrot echoed these sentiments: “We cannot accept the targeting of civilians in Gaza,” he said. “The war has gone on too long and must stop.”

He continued: “We must work to make the two-state solution a tangible reality. It meets the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and this conference must be a turning point in making it happen. We have launched an irreversible momentum towards a political solution in the Middle East.”

Barrot added, “It was absolutely necessary to restart the political process—the two-state solution—which today faces greater threats than ever before.”

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said, “The Palestinian people must not be condemned to eternal displacement and occupation.”

He called for an immediate end to the violence in Gaza, describing the situation as “one of the most horrific massacres in history.”

Mustafa expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia and France for co-hosting the conference, stating, We are grateful to Saudi Arabia and France for leading this historic conference, which sends a powerful message to the Palestinian people that the world stands with them.”

“This conference is a message to Israelis to move toward peace,” and praised France’s brave step in committing to recognise the State of Palestine, "he added.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said, “Egypt has intensified its humanitarian assistance in recent weeks by delivering urgent aid to Gaza to ease the suffering of its people. It is essential to sustain and strengthen these efforts in cooperation with international partners.”

“We welcome the French president’s commitment to recognising the State of Palestine and aspire to build international consensus toward full recognition of Palestinian statehood.” Abdelatty said

“We are engaged in intensive consultations with Qatar and the US to coordinate a major international conference for Gaza’s reconstruction, to be held once a ceasefire is reached. This conference will serve as a vital platform to attract global support and boost development efforts in the Strip,” he added. 

The two-state solution conference is expected to provide fresh momentum toward a summit anticipated in  September, which may be held in either Paris or New York, alongside high-level meetings during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.