'No alternative' to two-state solution for Israel, Palestinians
"Only a political, two-state solution will help respond to the legitimate aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. There is no alternative," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said at the start of the three-day meeting.
Days before the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he would formally recognize a State of Palestine in September.
In an interview with French weekly La Tribune Dimanche, Barrot said that other European countries will confirm "their intention to recognize the State of Palestine" during the conference, without confirming which.
"All states have a responsibility to act now," said Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Mustafa at the start of the meeting, calling for an international force to help underwrite Palestinian statehood.
"Recognize the state of Palestine without delay."
France is hoping that Britain will take this step. More than 200 British members of parliament on Friday voiced support for the idea, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated that recognition of a Palestinian state "must be part of a wider plan."
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the meeting "the two-State solution is farther than ever before," decrying Israel's "creeping annexation" of the occupied West Bank and "the wholesale destruction of Gaza."
According to an AFP database, at least 142 of the 193 UN member states -- including France -- now recognize the Palestinian state proclaimed by the Palestinian leadership in exile in 1988.
In 1947, a resolution of the UN General Assembly decided on the partition of Palestine, then under a British mandate, into two independent states -- one Jewish and the other Arab. The following year, the state of Israel was proclaimed.
For several decades, the vast majority of UN member states have supported the idea of a two-state solution, which would see Israel and a Palestinian state existing side-by-side.
But after more than 21 months of war in Gaza, the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and Israeli officials declaring designs to annex occupied territory, it is feared a Palestinian state could become geographically impossible.
The current war in Gaza started following a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel, which responded with a large-scale military response that has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and destroyed most basic infrastructure in the enclave.
This week's conference comes at a moment when "the prospect of a Palestinian state has never been so threatened, or so necessary," Barrot said.
- 'Israeli unilateral actions' -
Beyond facilitating conditions for the recognition of a Palestinian state, the meeting will focus on three other issues -- reform of the Palestinian Authority, disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from Palestinian public life, and normalization of relations with Israel by Arab states.
However, no new normalization deals are expected to be announced at the meeting, according to a French diplomatic source.
On the other hand, "for the first time, Arab countries will condemn Hamas and call for its disarmament," Barrot said.
Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said "we've got to act to stop Israeli unilateral actions that undermine the two-state solution, including settlements, land confiscation, encroachments on the holy sites and attempts to change the demographic composition of the West Bank and Gaza."
Israel and the United States were not taking part in the meeting, amid growing international pressure on Israel to end nearly two years of war in Gaza.
Despite "tactical pauses" in some military operations announced by Israel, the humanitarian catastrophe in the ravaged coastal territory is expected to dominate speeches by representatives of more than 100 countries as they take the podium.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said "this conference does not promote a solution, but rather deepens the illusion."
Bruno Stagno, chief advocacy officer at Human Rights Watch, said "more platitudes about a two-state solution and peace process will do nothing to advance the conference's goals, nor to halt the extermination of Palestinians in Gaza."
abd-gw/aha
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
6 hours ago
- ABC News
Albanese embraced by NZ Prime Minister Chris Luxon as two countries flag increased defence cooperation
China's presence in the Pacific and a push for peace in the Middle East were at the centre of talks between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon on Saturday. Both prime ministers were keen to present a united front on global uncertainty as they stood side by side in chilly Queenstown for annual talks. After both countries signed a joint statement condemning Israel's plan to further expand its military operations in the Gaza Strip by taking over Gaza City, the leaders expressed their concern during their joint press conference. Mr Albanese reiterated Australia's desire to see a ceasefire, as well as more aid flowing into the besieged Palestinian territory and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.. Despite the United Kingdom, France and Canada all proposing to recognise a Palestinian state in September at a major United Nations meeting, Australia and New Zealand have not put a timeline on when they will look to do so. Before formal discussions began, Mr Albanese was welcomed to New Zealand with a traditional Māori pōwhiri ceremony, and was embraced by Mr Luxon. It's the seventh time the two leaders have met as prime ministers, but they've known each other since long before that, when Mr Luxon was the head of Air New Zealand and Mr Albanese was Australia's transport minister. The official sit-down went for about an hour, after which the pair took a strictly limited six questions from the Australian and New Zealand press pack. The leaders confirmed they had discussed China and security in the Indo-Pacific, while also noting they had both recently visited China — a significant trading partner to both nations. They also made sure to emphasise their commitment to the Pacific family and its security. On the home front, both leaders signalled a desire to deepen defence ties between the two countries, with Mr Luxon saying he wanted Australia and New Zealand's militaries to operate as one ANZAC force. Despite a consistent push from the Trump administration for countries to boost their defence spending, both Mr Albanese and Mr Luxon stood by their current commitments to lift their spending to about 2 per cent of GDP. However, Mr Luxon did signal that he hoped to raise that figure, if possible. Mr Albanese's trip to New Zealand is only brief, lasting about 24 hours. While it's his third visit since becoming prime minister in 2022, he has not travelled to Queenstown since he was a young backpacker. He'll get a very different experience of the sites this time around — Mr Luxon and his wife are expected to spend Sunday morning showing Mr Albanese and his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, the city's stunning surrounds. Mr Albanese and Mr Luxon are both keen to promote tourism between their two countries, given Australia and New Zealand are each other's biggest tourism markets.
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Human catastrophe': PM condemns Israel's plan for Gaza
Anthony Albanese is urging his Israeli counterpart to rethink a decision to re-invade and take control of Gaza City "before it is too late". The prime minister joined a chorus of global leaders condemning the plan and warning it would worsen a humanitarian crisis in the devastated enclave. After a meeting in Queenstown on Saturday, Mr Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a joint statement calling on Israel to comply with international law. "Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law, and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip," they said. "We urge the Israeli government to reconsider before it is too late. "Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned." Foreign Minister Penny Wong separately warned the looming military operation risked putting the lives of hostages and civilians in more danger. Senator Wong joined Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to "strongly reject" Israel's decision to launch a large-scale military operation in Gaza. The foreign ministers said the plans would aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages and further risk the mass displacement of civilians. "We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire," they said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went against the advice of his military leaders to declare he intended to take military control of all of Gaza. "We intend to," Mr Netanyahu told Fox News when asked if Israel would take over the entire territory. Israel would eventually hand over the territory to Arab forces, which would govern it, he said. "We don't want to keep it," Mr Netanyahu said. "We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body." The move could displace an estimated one million Palestinians and has sparked international outrage. Germany has suspended arms sales to Israel, concerned the weapons could be used in Gaza and marking a major shift in its foreign policy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a conservative whose support for Israel was a foundation of his election campaign, said he would not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza "until further notice". The UN secretary general António Guterres described the plan as a "dangerous escalation" and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also urged Israel to reconsider. Going a step further, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnès Callamard described Israel's latest actions as "utterly outrageous and revolting". Ms Callamard called on the international community to suspend arms transfers, adopt targeted sanctions and terminate engagement with Israeli entities rather than "professing empty platitudes and condemnations". "These would merely constitute another smokescreen, while allowing the horrors of Israel's genocide to unfold," she said. The Israeli government is pursuing "total victory" in its war with Hamas, which attacked the nation's south in October 2023, killing approximately 1200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel's retaliatory assaults have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Some 200 people, almost half of them children, have reportedly died of starvation. The worsening humanitarian situation has driven plans from the UK, France and Canada to call for the recognition of Palestine at a UN meeting in September, pending conditions such as Hamas returning the remaining hostages. Australian government ministers have said the nation's recognition of Palestinian statehood is a matter of "when, not if". Anthony Albanese is urging his Israeli counterpart to rethink a decision to re-invade and take control of Gaza City "before it is too late". The prime minister joined a chorus of global leaders condemning the plan and warning it would worsen a humanitarian crisis in the devastated enclave. After a meeting in Queenstown on Saturday, Mr Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a joint statement calling on Israel to comply with international law. "Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law, and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip," they said. "We urge the Israeli government to reconsider before it is too late. "Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned." Foreign Minister Penny Wong separately warned the looming military operation risked putting the lives of hostages and civilians in more danger. Senator Wong joined Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to "strongly reject" Israel's decision to launch a large-scale military operation in Gaza. The foreign ministers said the plans would aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages and further risk the mass displacement of civilians. "We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire," they said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went against the advice of his military leaders to declare he intended to take military control of all of Gaza. "We intend to," Mr Netanyahu told Fox News when asked if Israel would take over the entire territory. Israel would eventually hand over the territory to Arab forces, which would govern it, he said. "We don't want to keep it," Mr Netanyahu said. "We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body." The move could displace an estimated one million Palestinians and has sparked international outrage. Germany has suspended arms sales to Israel, concerned the weapons could be used in Gaza and marking a major shift in its foreign policy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a conservative whose support for Israel was a foundation of his election campaign, said he would not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza "until further notice". The UN secretary general António Guterres described the plan as a "dangerous escalation" and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also urged Israel to reconsider. Going a step further, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnès Callamard described Israel's latest actions as "utterly outrageous and revolting". Ms Callamard called on the international community to suspend arms transfers, adopt targeted sanctions and terminate engagement with Israeli entities rather than "professing empty platitudes and condemnations". "These would merely constitute another smokescreen, while allowing the horrors of Israel's genocide to unfold," she said. The Israeli government is pursuing "total victory" in its war with Hamas, which attacked the nation's south in October 2023, killing approximately 1200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel's retaliatory assaults have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Some 200 people, almost half of them children, have reportedly died of starvation. The worsening humanitarian situation has driven plans from the UK, France and Canada to call for the recognition of Palestine at a UN meeting in September, pending conditions such as Hamas returning the remaining hostages. Australian government ministers have said the nation's recognition of Palestinian statehood is a matter of "when, not if". Anthony Albanese is urging his Israeli counterpart to rethink a decision to re-invade and take control of Gaza City "before it is too late". The prime minister joined a chorus of global leaders condemning the plan and warning it would worsen a humanitarian crisis in the devastated enclave. After a meeting in Queenstown on Saturday, Mr Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a joint statement calling on Israel to comply with international law. "Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law, and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip," they said. "We urge the Israeli government to reconsider before it is too late. "Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned." Foreign Minister Penny Wong separately warned the looming military operation risked putting the lives of hostages and civilians in more danger. Senator Wong joined Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to "strongly reject" Israel's decision to launch a large-scale military operation in Gaza. The foreign ministers said the plans would aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages and further risk the mass displacement of civilians. "We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire," they said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went against the advice of his military leaders to declare he intended to take military control of all of Gaza. "We intend to," Mr Netanyahu told Fox News when asked if Israel would take over the entire territory. Israel would eventually hand over the territory to Arab forces, which would govern it, he said. "We don't want to keep it," Mr Netanyahu said. "We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body." The move could displace an estimated one million Palestinians and has sparked international outrage. Germany has suspended arms sales to Israel, concerned the weapons could be used in Gaza and marking a major shift in its foreign policy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a conservative whose support for Israel was a foundation of his election campaign, said he would not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza "until further notice". The UN secretary general António Guterres described the plan as a "dangerous escalation" and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also urged Israel to reconsider. Going a step further, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnès Callamard described Israel's latest actions as "utterly outrageous and revolting". Ms Callamard called on the international community to suspend arms transfers, adopt targeted sanctions and terminate engagement with Israeli entities rather than "professing empty platitudes and condemnations". "These would merely constitute another smokescreen, while allowing the horrors of Israel's genocide to unfold," she said. The Israeli government is pursuing "total victory" in its war with Hamas, which attacked the nation's south in October 2023, killing approximately 1200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel's retaliatory assaults have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Some 200 people, almost half of them children, have reportedly died of starvation. The worsening humanitarian situation has driven plans from the UK, France and Canada to call for the recognition of Palestine at a UN meeting in September, pending conditions such as Hamas returning the remaining hostages. Australian government ministers have said the nation's recognition of Palestinian statehood is a matter of "when, not if". Anthony Albanese is urging his Israeli counterpart to rethink a decision to re-invade and take control of Gaza City "before it is too late". The prime minister joined a chorus of global leaders condemning the plan and warning it would worsen a humanitarian crisis in the devastated enclave. After a meeting in Queenstown on Saturday, Mr Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a joint statement calling on Israel to comply with international law. "Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law, and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip," they said. "We urge the Israeli government to reconsider before it is too late. "Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned." Foreign Minister Penny Wong separately warned the looming military operation risked putting the lives of hostages and civilians in more danger. Senator Wong joined Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to "strongly reject" Israel's decision to launch a large-scale military operation in Gaza. The foreign ministers said the plans would aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages and further risk the mass displacement of civilians. "We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire," they said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went against the advice of his military leaders to declare he intended to take military control of all of Gaza. "We intend to," Mr Netanyahu told Fox News when asked if Israel would take over the entire territory. Israel would eventually hand over the territory to Arab forces, which would govern it, he said. "We don't want to keep it," Mr Netanyahu said. "We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body." The move could displace an estimated one million Palestinians and has sparked international outrage. Germany has suspended arms sales to Israel, concerned the weapons could be used in Gaza and marking a major shift in its foreign policy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a conservative whose support for Israel was a foundation of his election campaign, said he would not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza "until further notice". The UN secretary general António Guterres described the plan as a "dangerous escalation" and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also urged Israel to reconsider. Going a step further, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnès Callamard described Israel's latest actions as "utterly outrageous and revolting". Ms Callamard called on the international community to suspend arms transfers, adopt targeted sanctions and terminate engagement with Israeli entities rather than "professing empty platitudes and condemnations". "These would merely constitute another smokescreen, while allowing the horrors of Israel's genocide to unfold," she said. The Israeli government is pursuing "total victory" in its war with Hamas, which attacked the nation's south in October 2023, killing approximately 1200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel's retaliatory assaults have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Some 200 people, almost half of them children, have reportedly died of starvation. The worsening humanitarian situation has driven plans from the UK, France and Canada to call for the recognition of Palestine at a UN meeting in September, pending conditions such as Hamas returning the remaining hostages. Australian government ministers have said the nation's recognition of Palestinian statehood is a matter of "when, not if".
SBS Australia
10 hours ago
- SBS Australia
What we know, and don't know, about Israel's plan to take over Gaza City
Israel has announced its plan to seize control of Gaza City — a move that has raised questions about the fate of Gaza and its people. Following the proposal that outlines principles for "concluding the war", the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the army will "prepare" to take over Gaza City. Here is what we know, and don't know, about Israel's new plan. What exactly has the security cabinet approved? Under the newly approved plan to "defeat" Hamas, the Israeli army "will prepare to take control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside combat zones", Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Friday. The statement outlined five "principles" to end the war : Disarming Hamas The return of all hostages, both living and dead Demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip Israeli security control over the Gaza Strip The establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority The plan triggered swift criticism from across the globe, with Australia, China, Turkey, Britain and numerous Arab governments issuing statements of concern. Hamas, the militant group responsible for the deadly attack on Israel in 2023 that sparked the war, labelled Israel's intentions to seize Gaza City as a "new war crime", accusing the Israeli government of "ethnic cleansing". Out of 251 hostages captured during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the military says are dead. Why Gaza City? Previously, Netanyahu said Israel planned to take control of all of Gaza, but the new plan only specified control of Gaza City. There was no official explanation for why the focus had changed to Gaza City. Holding full control of the territory would reverse Israel's 2005 decision to withdraw its citizens and soldiers from Gaza, while still keeping authority over the borders, airspace, and utilities. Local media have reported that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other military officials had raised concerns about the full occupation of Gaza. Israel's Channel 12 reported Zamir saying this would "drag Israel into a black hole" during a closed-door meeting. Zamir reportedly suggested alternatives like encircling specific areas where Hamas militants are believed to be located. Most of the 2 million Palestinians currently seeking shelter are in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and the displacement camps in the Muwasi area along the coast. Source: SBS News Before the war, Gaza City was the most populous city in Gaza, with a population exceeding 700,000. With evacuations ongoing since the start of the conflict, there are no official details about its current population, but Israeli media estimates the population to be about 900,000. What do we know about the planned operation? During the potential operation in Gaza City, the civilian population would be further displaced to the southern Strip, according to a report by the Times of Israel. Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli brigadier general, has called Gaza City "the heart of Gaza," saying its fall "is pretty much the fall of Hamas". There are no details about when and how the Israeli military will implement the plan in Gaza City, but multiple local media, including the Kan public broadcaster, have previously reported that the plan will last four to five months in several stages. CNN reported that the first phase will include the evacuation of Gaza City, and it is expected to end on 7 October, the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people. Who will run Gaza? The fifth principle Israel's security cabinet announced is "establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority". The militant group Hamas has been in power in Gaza since 2007, while the Palestinian Authority, which is recognised by some countries, has governed parts of the occupied West Bank since the mid 90s. The Israeli government did not provide any further details about who should replace these two. Netanyahu has previously said that Israel has no intention to "govern" Gaza, and they "don't want to keep it". "We want to have a security perimeter ... We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life," he told Fox News on Friday. He did not offer any additional details about which "Arab forces" might govern Gaza, and so far, none of the Arab countries have agreed to take the lead. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan have all denounced Israel's new plan. In July, France and Saudi Arabia outlined steps toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which involved Hamas handing over its arms to the Palestinian Authority. The decision was endorsed by Qatar and Egypt, but Hamas has said it won't disarm unless an "independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital" is established. Israel has bombarded Gaza since Hamas' October 7 attack in 2023, in which more than 1,200 people, including an estimated 30 children, were killed and over 200 hostages taken, according to the Israeli government. More than 60,430 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, according to the health ministry in Gaza. The October 7 attack was a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Israel has denied that the population in Gaza is facing, or succumbing to, starvation.
