Saudi FM seeks global support for final document of ‘Two-State Solution' conference
The document includes an agreement to work jointly toward ending the war in Gaza and reaching a just, peaceful, and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the effective implementation of the two-state solution, and to build a better future for Palestinians, Israelis, and all peoples of the region.
The declaration's plan says conference co-chairs France and Saudi Arabia, the European Union and Arab League, and 15 countries that led the working groups agreed 'to take collective action to end the war in Gaza.'
Prince Faisal urged the rest of the 193 UN member nations 'to support this document' before the start of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in mid-September.
'These outcomes reflect comprehensive proposals across political, humanitarian, security, economic, legal, and strategic narrative tracks, and they form an integrated and actionable framework for implementing the two-state solution and achieving peace and security for all,' the foreign minister said, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
He reiterated Saudi Arabia's condemnation of all attacks by any party targeting civilians, including indiscriminate attacks, all assaults on civilian infrastructure, provocative actions, incitement, and acts of destruction.
The declaration condemns 'the attacks committed by Hamas against civilians' in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. It marks a first condemnation by Arab nations of Hamas, whose attacks killed about 1,200, mainly Israeli civilians, and whose militants took about 250 people hostage. Some 50 are still being held.
It also condemns Israel's attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza and its 'siege and starvation, which have produced a devastating humanitarian catastrophe and protection crisis.'
Israel's offensive against Hamas has killed over 60,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants.
It's plan envisions the Palestinian Authority governing and controlling all Palestinian territory, with a transitional administrative committee immediately established under its umbrella after a ceasefire in Gaza.
'In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority,' the declaration says.
It also supports deployment of 'a temporary international stabilization mission' operating under UN auspices to protect Palestinian civilians, support the transfer of security to the Palestinian Authority and provide security guarantees for Palestine and Israel — 'including monitoring of the ceasefire and of a future peace agreement.'
The declaration urges countries to recognize the state of Palestine, calling this 'an essential and indispensable component of the achievement of the two-state solution.' Without naming Israel but clearly referring to it, the document says 'illegal unilateral actions are posing an existential threat to the realization of the independent state of Palestine.'
(With agencies)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
6 minutes ago
- Leaders
Finland's President Open to Recognizing Palestinian State
Finland's President Alexander Stubb stated that he is prepared to approve a recognition of a Palestinian state if the government decides to move forward with the proposal, according to AFP. Finland Moves Closer to Recognizing Palestinian State The statement comes at a crucial time as several countries, such as France, Canada as well as Malta have announced their plans to recognize a Palestinian state alongside the 80th UN General Assembly in September. 'The decisions by France, the United Kingdom and Canada reinforce the trend towards recognizing Palestine as part of efforts to breathe new life into the peace process,' Stubb said in a post to X Thursday. While the Finnish President holds limited executive powers, the role includes coordinating the country's foreign policy in close collaboration with the government. 'If I receive a proposal to recognize the Palestinian state, I am prepared to approve it,' Stubb said, deploring an 'inhumane' situation in Gaza. That is why Stubb noted that he understood that Finns had 'different opinions on the recognition of Palestine, and that there is also concern.' Therefore, he calls for an 'open' and 'honest' debate. The far-right Finns Party and the Christian Democrats have voiced opposition to the recognition of a Palestinian state. France, Canada, Malta Pledge to Recognize Palestinian State Last week, the French President unveiled his intension to recognize the Palestinian state at the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations in September. Moreover, Malta has announced it will officially recognize the State of Palestine this coming September, joining an increasing number of countries such as France and the United Kingdom amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza. 'Malta has consistently supported the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. As responsible international actors, we must help turn the two-state solution from a concept into a reality,' Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary at Malta's Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, said. At the same time, Canada also revealed plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September as international pressure on Israel is surging over the ongoing starvation crisis in the Palestinian enclave. 'Canada intends to recognize the state of Palestine at the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations,' Carney told reporters. Related Topics: Malta to Officially Recognize State of Palestine in Sept. Canada to Recognize Palestinian State at UN, Sparking US, Israeli Backlash France to Recognize Palestinian State, Sparking Outrage from US, Israel Short link : Post Views: 6
Leaders
21 minutes ago
- Leaders
Slovenia Imposes Arms Embargo on Israel Over Gaza Conflict
Slovenia became the first EU nation to impose arms embargo on Israel over the war in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian conditions of the Palestinians, according to AFP. Arms Embargo Slovenia's government has repeatedly criticized Israel over the ongoing war in the Palestinian enclave. In 2024, the government moved to recognize a Palestinian state as part of efforts to end the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible. 'Slovenia is the first European country to ban the import, export and transit of weapons to and from Israel,' the government said in a statement late Thursday. Crucially, the government noted that it was moving ahead 'independently' as the bloc was 'unable to adopt concrete measures … due to internal disagreements and disunity.' Slovenia also noted that since October 2023, the government had not issued any permits for the export of military weapons and equipment to Israel. Banning Two Far-Right Israeli Ministers from Entering Slovenia In June, Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said that her country declared two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, persona non grata, according to Reuters. Slovenia becomes the first European Union country to take such a decisive step in response to Israeli military operations in Gaza and its mounting violence against Palestinians. The Slovenian government has accused both ministers of making 'genocidal statements' and inciting violence against Palestinians. 'Today, the government adopted one of the first national measures, which is to declare two Israeli ministers… unwanted in the Republic of Slovenia,' Fajon told a news conference. Crucially, this significant step comes after EU Foreign Ministers' failure to agree on joint action against Israel over charges of human rights violations at a meeting in Brussels. 'This kind of measure is the first of its kind in the European Union. We are breaking new ground,' she said. Slovenia's government issued a statement saying both Ben-Gvir and Smotrich 'publicly advocate the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the forced evictions of Palestinians, and call for violence against the civilian Palestinian population'. This decision comes at a crucial time as violence against Palestinians in the West Bank is growing with increasing number of killings and attacks by settlers and security forces. Related Topics: Germany Says Israel Faces Increasing Diplomatic Isolation over Gaza War Saudi Arabia Expands Gaza Relief Effort with 7 New Aid Trucks Spain to Airdrop 12 Tons of Food into Gaza, Joining Regional Relief Effort Short link : Post Views: 72
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
A stain on the face of humanity
The US is finally admitting that Gazans are starving. In the space of less than 24 hours, President Donald Trump shifted positions, from saying that he was not sure people are starving in Gaza to stating that there is 'real starvation' in the Israeli-blockaded enclave. In a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland on Monday, Trump said that the US would set up 'food centers' in Gaza as he acknowledged Israel 'has a lot of responsibility' for limiting aid to the Strip. His admission puts him at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Sunday denied that people are starving in Gaza. In March, Israel pulled out of a ceasefire deal with Hamas, negotiated through the US, and imposed a full blockade on more than 2 million Gazans. It stopped all aid trucks from entering the Strip, thereby denying civilians access to essential supplies such as food, baby formula, medicine, fuel and water. Israel has used starvation as a weapon from Day 1 of its onslaught on Gaza. Its officials are on record admitting and supporting the blockade. Far-right Cabinet ministers have objected to any proposal that would reopen the border crossings to allow hundreds of aid trucks to enter the beleaguered enclave. On the few occasions that aid trucks have been admitted, Israel attacked and killed aid workers, including foreign nationals. It accused Hamas of stealing the aid, but the US Agency for International Development debunked that claim. Israel banned the leading UN agency, UNRWA, which is responsible for delivering food and medicine to the Palestinians. It bombed food warehouses in Gaza and created a human-made humanitarian catastrophe that — so far — has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of children and infants from acute malnutrition. And when pressure was put on Israel and the US to offer an alternative to the UN and other organizations, Netanyahu created the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-Israeli entity manned by armed contractors and protected by the Israeli army, which took responsibility for feeding more than 2 million souls. The outcome is tragic and, to say the least, criminal. So far, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been gunned down by Israel and the armed contractors as they huddled like animals to receive meals. But even then, Israel poured cement into water wells, denied hospitals access to fuel and medication, and continued to strike safe zones where hapless civilians were ordered to move by the Israeli army for their safety. The irony is that, even as Israel knowingly and deliberately pushed the Strip into starvation, Western governments, including the US, did nothing to stop it. It was only when the harrowing images of emaciated babies went viral on social media that real pressure was put on Israel. Netanyahu last week announced a humanitarian pause, allowing aid trucks into the Strip and facilitating airdrops. But while hundreds of trucks traveled from Egypt into an Israeli-controlled border point, only 100 were allowed in. Aid agencies estimate that between 500 and 700 trucks are needed daily to contain the humanitarian crisis. Netanyahu must be ordered to end the humanitarian crisis and stop weaponizing food and medicine. Osama Al-Sharif The so-called humanitarian pause is a lie. Israel continues to bomb Gaza, mainly killing civilians, while the few functioning hospitals lack fuel, food, water and medication. Now, Trump wants to establish food centers in Gaza. Israel will find ways to sabotage that effort. What Trump fails or refuses to say is that Israel must open the border crossings to let aid trucks in without conditions. Netanyahu must be ordered to end the humanitarian crisis and stop weaponizing food and medicine. Israel lost all sympathy for its war as it waged an open genocide on Gaza. The objective was never to defeat Hamas but to destroy Gaza and displace its people. US, Egyptian, Qatari and even Israeli negotiators know that Hamas was ready to deliver the hostages if Israel would commit to ending the war. However, Netanyahu and his far-right government partners have other ideas. They openly talk about reoccupying and colonizing Gaza. They have no sympathy for the high civilian toll and push for forcing Gazans to leave at any price. Israel's image in the West has been tarnished and no one believes it can ever be repaired. If and when the war stops and independent journalists and investigators enter the Strip, the complete picture of the horrors Israel has created there will become clear. Even Israeli reports now believe the final death toll in Gaza will be double or triple the current figures. Despite all the war crimes that Israel has committed in Gaza, the Palestinians are not leaving. Israel has had to abandon its grotesque proposal to set up a so-called humanitarian city on the remains of Rafah — a concentration camp no different to the ones the Nazis built for European Jews ahead of their 'final solution.' The images of starving Palestinian children are a stain on the face of humanity, but they will especially haunt Israelis and those who enabled this genocide. It could be brought to an end today. Trump must tell Israel to do so. Trump's admission that Gazans are starving and that the war must end requires bold action. Such action must be done in collaboration with Western countries that have leverage remaining over Israel. Ending the humanitarian crisis is a priority. This collective message must be sent to Netanyahu as soon as possible. Ending the blockade is the first step. This must be followed by a plan to end the war, retrieve the hostages and end Hamas' control of the Strip. Israel must pull out and allow an interim authority to take over, as was previously suggested. Gazans need protection and Israel needs assurances that Oct. 7 will never happen again. This is a moment where Hamas must put the safety and interests of the Palestinian people, who have paid a dear price over the past 22 months, ahead of its own. But even then, that is not enough. The Palestinian question must be addressed and a resolution to decades of war and death must be found. The core of instability in the region has always been linked to Israel's denial of Palestinian self-determination and rejection of the two-state solution. The need for international momentum to relaunch a genuine peace process has never been more urgent. Trump is in a position to change the current trajectory not only in Gaza, but in Israel and the West Bank as well. The Palestinian issue is, at its heart, not humanitarian but political and the time has come to address it.
