The High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was held from 28-30th July. The agenda was to end the war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, proposing a two-state solution, security for Israel, and achieve a meaningful and sustained peace in the region. The meetings convened in New York amid widespread civilian sufferings in Gaza where all the UN members acted collectively on the Palestinian issue.
160 countries attended the conference but the United States and Israel skipped the conference. 125 countries spoke in favour of a two-state solution.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in a statement said, “Food, water, medicine and fuel must flow in waves and without obstruction,… what we have feared: Gaza is on the brink of famine…. Palestinians in Gaza are enduring a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions. This is not a warning. This is a call to action. It is a reality unfolding before our eyes,”
The New York Declaration was signed by the 22 members of the Arab League, the European Union and 17 other members, proposing a phased roadmap to end the decade-old conflict between Israel and Palestine and bring irreversible peace:
• Demanded immediate and unconditional ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and also ensure uninterrupted delivery of food and humanitarian assistance, put end to the war, and release of the remaining hostages.
• Independent, sovereign, demilitarised, and unified Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, peacefully co-existing with Israel on equal footing. There must be full withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Gaza, and no blockade, territorial constriction, or forced displacement.
• Hamas must cede its rule and disarm, surrendering its arms to the Palestinian Authority. The sovereign Palestinian state would be governed by the Palestinian Authority “based on the principle of one government, one law, one gun“
• Several Western countries like France, Canada announced their decision to recognise the State of Palestine in September during the United Nations General Assembly, while the UK issued a warning to Israel to stop its military operation in the region and siege of the Palestinian civilian population and agree on a ceasefire. Failing to do so, would prompt the UK to recognise Palestine
• A “temporary international stabilization mission” aided by the United Nations Security Council would protect civilians and ensure security in both Israel and Palestine.
• Once the ceasefire is in force, a transitional committee would be formed under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority
The Declaration has drawn the United States and Israel’s condemnation as the proposals do not align with Israel’s security situation. There has been a major shift in the world’s perspective from sympathising with Israel to siding with Palestine and the issue of Palestinian statehood. After the October 7 attack, the world has witnessed Israel’s indiscriminate operations, aiming to eliminate Hamas. Militarily, the Israel Defence Forces has been quite successful in weakening the axis of resistance but, at the same time, the rest of the fifty hostages are still under the control of Hamas along with Israel’s waning support both internationally and in the domestic sphere.
Mass protests denouncing the war as “genocide,” the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime Minister and the former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and key allies like the UK and France moving toward recognition of Palestine all signal a significant diplomatic setback for Israel.
