Saudi-French Led Conference Sets 15-Month Timeline for Establishing Palestinian State
New York, The Gulf Observer: A high-level international conference co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France concluded in New York with the adoption of a landmark, time-bound roadmap aimed at establishing a sovereign Palestinian state within 15 months, marking a renewed global push for the long-elusive two-state solution.
The final communiqué, unanimously endorsed by participating nations, asserted that “war, occupation, and displacement cannot bring peace” and reaffirmed the two-state solution as the only viable path to fulfil the legitimate aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis.
The document laid out a detailed political, security, legal, humanitarian, and economic framework, including the immediate formation of a transitional governance committee for Gaza under the Palestinian Authority’s jurisdiction. The plan calls for the full political and administrative unification of Gaza and the West Bank, declaring unequivocally: “Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian state and must be reunited with the West Bank.”
The declaration urged Israel to publicly commit to the two-state solution and to cease incitement and violence against Palestinians. It categorically rejected any form of forced displacement of Palestinians and called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.
Participants strongly condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks and Israel’s military operations against civilians, reaffirming that hostage-taking constitutes a serious violation of international law. The statement demanded that Hamas release all captives, relinquish control of Gaza, and surrender all weapons to Palestinian security forces under the unified command of the Palestinian Authority.
The document denounced the use of starvation as a weapon of war and called for urgent, unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the besieged Gaza Strip. It endorsed the creation of an international fund to support Gaza’s reconstruction and expressed full support for an Arab-led rebuilding initiative.
Furthermore, the communiqué welcomed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s pledge to conduct general elections within one year and reiterated the principle of “one authority, one weapon,” affirming the Palestinian Authority as the sole legitimate governing body.
On refugee issues, the statement reaffirmed the indispensable role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), noting that its services would eventually be transferred to the Palestinian Authority following a just and comprehensive resolution to the refugee question.
Speaking at the conclusion of the conference, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that the gathering had “rescued the two-state solution, which had been at serious risk,” while Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan described the outcome as an “actionable blueprint” for peace and urged all countries to officially endorse the final document by communicating their support to the Saudi and French missions before the conclusion of the 79th United Nations General Assembly.
In a parallel development, the United Kingdom announced its intention to recognize Palestinian statehood as early as September, unless “substantive steps” are taken by Israel to end what Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as the “appalling” humanitarian situation in Gaza. He noted that the move is consistent with the longstanding policy of the Labour Party and aligns with the broader peace strategy being pursued by his administration.
