Global Conference Pushes for Palestinian Statehood Without U.S., Israel Support
A major international conference, hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, is being held to support the creation of a Palestinian state. The United Nations General Assembly decided last year that this conference would take place in 2025, but it was delayed in June after Israel attacked Iran.
At the event, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said the world must support a plan that helps create a Palestinian state while making sure Israel stays secure.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the conference by urging real action. “This meeting must not be just more talk. It should be a turning point toward peace and a two-state solution,” he said.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the current war in Gaza is hurting the region’s stability. He also said France wants more countries to recognize Palestine as a state. French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced that France will officially recognize Palestine in September 2025 during the U.N. General Assembly meeting.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa also called on all countries to recognize Palestine without delay. He said peace starts by recognizing the Palestinian state and protecting it from being destroyed.
U.S. and Israel Refuse to Join
The United States and Israel are boycotting the conference. A U.S. State Department spokesperson called the meeting “a gift to Hamas” and said it could harm peace efforts.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon also criticized the conference. He said it doesn’t offer real solutions and ignores the fact that Hamas still holds hostages.
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, according to Israel. Since then, Israel’s military response has killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians, Gaza health officials report.
Global Support for Palestine Growing
The U.N. has long supported a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace. In May 2024, the U.N. General Assembly voted in favor of recognizing Palestine as ready to become a full member state. The vote passed with 143 countries in favor and only nine against.
While the United States blocked Palestine’s full U.N. membership in the Security Council, the strong General Assembly support shows that global backing for Palestine is increasing.
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