Palestinians gather beside a wrecked vehicle following an overnight Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on July 28, 2025.
UN Chief Urges Decisive Action Toward Two-State Solution Amid US, Israel Boycott
New York, USA – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a renewed call for the global community to take concrete steps toward a viable two-state solution to the protracted Israel-Palestine conflict. The call was made during the opening of a high-level international conference hosted jointly by France and Saudi Arabia, amid the conspicuous absence of both the United States and Israel.
The three-day UN-backed conference, held in accordance with a 2023 General Assembly resolution, aims to establish a framework for a lasting political resolution to the conflict, which has continued to destabilise the Middle East. The gathering, initially scheduled for June but postponed following Israeli strikes on Iran, is being viewed by many diplomats as a pivotal moment in global diplomacy concerning the decades-old crisis.
Addressing dozens of ministers and international delegates on Monday, Guterres cautioned against symbolic declarations lacking substance, stating, “We must ensure that it does not become another exercise in well-meaning rhetoric.” He urged all member states to seize the moment to make irreversible progress toward the realisation of a Palestinian state and lasting peace in the region.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud echoed Guterres’ sentiments, calling on world powers to endorse a roadmap that would pave the way for Palestinian statehood while safeguarding Israel’s security. “All states have a responsibility to act now,” Prince Faisal said, urging the international community to demonstrate tangible commitment.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also underscored the urgency of the moment, asserting, “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.” The French government, under President Emmanuel Macron, has signalled its intent to formally recognise a Palestinian state during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September, a move France hopes will act as a turning point in the peace process.
Despite mounting international pressure to end the ongoing war in Gaza, the United States and Israel boycotted the conference. The US State Department dismissed the event as “unproductive,” labelling it a “publicity stunt” that would complicate peace efforts. It also criticised President Macron’s promise of recognition, calling it “counterproductive” and a potential “reward for terrorism.”
Nevertheless, Prince Faisal expressed hope for renewed US engagement, specifically calling for the involvement of former President Donald Trump in mediating a resolution. “I’m firmly in the belief that the US engagement, especially the engagement of President Trump, can be a catalyst for an end to the immediate crisis in Gaza,” he stated during a press briefing.
The conference comes as Israel’s military offensive in Gaza continues into its 22nd month. The conflict was ignited in October 2023 when Hamas launched a surprise assault on southern Israel, killing at least 1,139 people and taking over 200 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israel launched a wide-scale military campaign in Gaza, which Palestinian health officials report has claimed the lives of more than 59,000 people, the majority of whom are women and children.
Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara noted that regional actors such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan currently wield limited influence over the crisis. “They are weak and cannot do anything themselves about what is going on in Gaza,” he said.
The United Nations has long supported the establishment of two states living side by side within secure and internationally recognised borders. Palestinians seek an independent state encompassing the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip—territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
In May 2024, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed Palestine’s qualification for full UN membership, with 143 nations voting in favour. The move was seen as a symbolic victory following a US veto that blocked the bid in the Security Council weeks earlier.
As the international community continues to grapple with the war’s devastating toll and the broader implications for regional stability, the absence of key stakeholders at this critical conference casts a long shadow over hopes for a negotiated peace.
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Source: My News Ghana
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