International summit led by Saudi Arabia and France advocates for a two-state solution, happening concurrently with the US and Israel choosing to abstain from participation
United Nations Conference Seeks Peaceful Settlement for Palestine-Israel Conflict
The United Nations held a High-level International Conference on the Two-State Solution for Israel and Palestinians from July 28 to 30, 2025, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, with the goal of reaffirming international consensus and catalyzing coordinated action toward implementing a two-State solution for a sovereign and peaceful Palestinian state alongside Israel.
The conference was a UN Member State-led event, involving representatives from many UN member countries and international organizations who engaged in preparatory meetings and eight thematic working groups before the main event. Countries actively involved included the co-chairs France and Saudi Arabia, and statements were delivered by member states including Singapore, among others, demonstrating broad international participation.
The focus was on ending the war in Gaza and planning for post-conflict recovery for Palestinians and Israelis. The conference aimed to empower a sovereign and economically viable State of Palestine living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security. Strengthening respect for international law and reinforcing regional and international cooperation were also key objectives. Discussions were structured around eight thematic roundtables designed to shape concrete and timebound international actions toward resolution.
The Secretary-General highlighted the urgency described as the two-state solution being at a "breaking point,” emphasizing the conference as a turning point to irreversible progress based on international law. Human rights, ending occupation, and calls to end violations of international law were key subtopics reflecting the conflict’s humanitarian impact.
The conference reiterated strong international commitment to a negotiated two-State solution that must include viable Palestinian statehood. Member states called for the lifting of Gaza’s siege and an end to Israeli annexation policies perceived as obstacles to peace. The Secretary-General and participants stressed that peace requires difficult political concessions and negotiations.
While specific detailed agreements or peace accords were not reported immediately, the event galvanized renewed political will, coordinated plans of action, and reinforced diplomatic pressure toward conflict resolution. The conference was widely viewed as a critical opportunity to seize progress in a conflict that has endured devastating violence, particularly in Gaza.
However, the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, despite being described as genocidal by international human rights organizations and legal bodies, has continued with full U.S. support. Israel, with full U.S. support, continues to wage a war in Gaza that international human rights organizations and legal bodies describe as genocidal, marked by mass killings, starvation, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and large-scale forced displacement. Over 204,000 Palestinians have been killed or wounded, the majority being women and children. Over 9,000 Palestinians remain missing, and hundreds of thousands are displaced and facing dire humanitarian conditions with limited aid access. The International Court of Justice has issued multiple calls and interim measures to halt the military offensive, all of which have been ignored.
The U.S. and Israel are absent from the conference, maintaining opposition to any international initiative backing the two-state solution at this time. The foreign ministers of the United States and Israel are absent from the conference, having both announced their refusal to participate.
In summary, the 2025 UN conference on the two-State solution was a major diplomatic effort involving broad international participation, focused on ending ongoing violence, promoting Palestinian statehood alongside Israel, upholding international law, and fostering peace through political negotiations and international cooperation. Despite these efforts, the Israeli military offensive in Gaza continues with full U.S. support, causing widespread devastation and human suffering.
- The conference aim was to empower a sovereign and economically viable State of Palestine living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security, which includes strengthening respect for international law and reinforcing regional and international cooperation.
- The Secretary-General emphasized the urgency of the two-state solution being at a "breaking point,” and stressed that peace requires difficult political concessions and negotiations.
- Human rights, ending occupation, and calls to end violations of international law were key subtopics reflecting the conflict’s humanitarian impact during discussions.
- International human rights organizations and legal bodies have described the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza as genocidal, marked by mass killings, starvation, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and large-scale forced displacement.
- The U.S. and Israel are absent from the conference, maintaining opposition to any international initiative backing the two-state solution at this time.
- The conference reiterated strong international commitment to a negotiated two-State solution that must include viable Palestinian statehood, and participants stressed that ending the war in Gaza and planning for post-conflict recovery for Palestinians and Israelis were critical objectives.
