UN roundtable renews push for two-state solution - War on Gaza
The High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine in New York, co-organized by France and Saudi Arabia, brought together foreign ministers, UN diplomats, and experts under the banner The Case for Peace.
Roundtable 1 focused on reviving prospects for peace through coordinated narratives, legal obligations, and multilateral action.
Beyond politics: The power of narratives
Qatar's Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi asserted bluntly: 'The occupation cannot ensure security.'
Reaffirming his country's support for an independent Palestinian state along 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, he underscored that the protection of civilians is a fundamental obligation under international humanitarian law.
Qatar's position found common cause within the Narrative for Peace Working Group, co-led by Canada, Mexico, and Qatar.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand warned that political agreements alone will not resolve the conflict. 'We must also address the narratives shaping identity, perception, and legitimacy,' she said. 'The region must be defined by peace, by stability, and by dignity for all.'
Canada, she noted, is committed to civilian protection, humanitarian support, and Palestinian-led reconstruction.
Mexico's UN envoy, Héctor Enrique Vasconcelos y Cruz, echoed the call for coexistence: 'Initiatives aimed at fostering future peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis must be prioritized. We must prove that coexistence is possible.'
Together, participants emphasized the need to shift the global approach, viewing the conflict not only as a political dispute but also as one grounded in deeper issues of identity and mutual recognition.
The legal front: 'Law must prevail over might'
The Promoting Respect for International Law Working Group, chaired by Brazil and Senegal, addressed the erosion of legal norms in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira declared that the Palestinian ordeal is a test of the international community's commitment to law. 'When confronted with credible allegations of genocide, invoking international law is not enough. We must enforce it with resolve,' he said, criticizing selective enforcement and double standards.
Senegal's Foreign Minister, Yassine Fall, said the legal vacuum in the occupied territories was not just a technical failure, but a moral and political one. 'The roundtable reaffirmed the primacy of law over might,' she added.
The group put forward a range of recommendations: recognizing Palestine as a state, supporting its full UN membership, opposing settlement expansion, protecting UNRWA staff and civil society actors, sanctioning violent settlers, and taking lawful countermeasures against grave violations.
Rebuilding Gaza, restoring hope
With Gaza's infrastructure devastated and famine worsening, Working Group 6, co-led by Turkey and Ireland, stressed the need to preserve the feasibility of a two-state solution by rebuilding the Gaza Strip.
Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yılmaz said, 'Empowering the state of Palestine calls for addressing the urgent question: How to end the Israeli occupation.' He cited the occupation as the primary barrier to Palestinian sovereignty.
Ireland's Minister of State Emer Higgins described the situation in Gaza as 'new depths of despair and new depths of misery,' calling for an immediate ceasefire and accountability for violent settlers. 'Mass starvation is now spreading right across the population, and that is an affront to our collective humanity. We need to see an immediate ceasefire,' she added.
Ireland also endorsed the Arab-Islamic reconstruction plan as a credible foundation for restoring governance, security, and economic life in Gaza.
'We must create the conditions and the space for voices from different perspectives to be heard in safety and in respect,' she said.
'A critical point' — Mary Robinson's warning
In a stark keynote address, former Irish President and Elder Mary Robinson condemned the Israeli government for what she described as the dehumanization of Palestinians.
'The extremist government of Israel has reached a critical point,' she said, criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to acknowledge the scale of civilian loss. 'He has not apologized for the more than 17,000 children killed in Gaza or the many more children left without limbs and without family members,' she said.
'No apology has been deemed necessary because the children of Gaza have become dehumanized.'
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