Explainer: What's in the New York Declaration on Palestine and Israel
Developed following a high-level conference in New York co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, the declaration seeks to rally United Nations member states to support "tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps" towards implementing a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel.
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The seven-page declaration is the outcome of the international conference held at the UN last week.
It has been endorsed by the 22-member Arab League, the entire European Union, and a further 17 countries, while the United States and Israel chose to boycott the initiative.
The declaration pledges to impose restrictive measures on violent extremist settlers and their supporters, and to take targeted action against individuals and entities that undermine efforts for a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue through violence, terrorism, or breaches of international law.
What do we know about the declaration?
i) Call to end the war and unify Gaza and the West Bank:
The declaration emphasises the need for collective action to end the war in Gaza.
It calls for Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and for governance of the territory to be transferred to the Palestinian Authority.
A key principle of the declaration is that Gaza forms an integral part of the Palestinian state and must be unified with the West Bank, with a strict prohibition against any occupation, blockade, or forced displacement.
It asserts that a political solution - not military force - is the only way to achieve lasting peace and security, and that implementing the two-state solution is essential to fulfilling legitimate aspirations, in line with international law.
ii) Post-ceasefire governance and international demands:
Following a ceasefire, the declaration calls for the immediate formation of a transitional administrative committee in Gaza under the Palestinian Authority.
It also outlines international support for the Palestinian government and its security forces through funding and partnerships.
The declaration makes specific demands of Israel, urging it to publicly commit to the two-state solution, cease all settlement activity and violence against Palestinians, and abandon any annexation plans in the occupied Palestinian territories.
iii) Strengthening the Palestinian Authority and economic empowerment:
The declaration reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the Palestinian Authority's institutional and financial capabilities.
It calls for political and financial mobilisation to support the Authority's reform programme.
It also calls for the removal of restrictions on movement, the immediate release of Palestinian tax revenues withheld by Israel, and the establishment of a new framework for revenue transfers that would grant the Authority full control over its tax system.
Additionally, it supports Palestine's full integration into the international financial system.
iv) Protecting holy sites and punishing illegal settlers:
The declaration calls for the preservation of the legal and historical status quo of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
It also commits to the adoption of restrictive measures against violent extremist settlers and any individuals or entities that support illegal settlements.
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