UN's two-state conference sets 15-month timeline for creation of Palestinian state

NEW YORK (Web Desk) - Participants in the Two-State Solution Conference, held in New York, have agreed on the need to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of a two-state solution, according to a draft of the conference’s final statement.

A seven-page declaration emerged from a UN-hosted international conference this week, co-organised by Saudi Arabia and France, addressing the longstanding Israel-Palestine conflict. The United States and Israel boycotted the event.

The draft declaration emphasized that peace cannot be achieved through war, occupation, or displacement, advocating a two-state solution as the sole path to fulfill the aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis. It called for the creation of an independent Palestinian state coexisting peacefully with Israel, with a 15-month timeline for implementation.

Participants committed to time-bound actions to advance the two-state solution, warning that without it, the conflict will escalate. The draft urged Israel to publicly endorse the two-state solution and condemned forced displacement of Palestinians, demanding an end to violence and incitement against them.

The declaration called for an immediate end to the Gaza war, with collective measures agreed upon to halt hostilities. It demanded that Hamas release all hostages, relinquish control of Gaza, and condemned both Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks and Israeli strikes on civilians, noting that hostage-taking violates international law.

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The draft rejected starvation as a weapon in Gaza, insisting on immediate, unrestricted humanitarian aid delivery. It supported establishing a dedicated fund for Gaza’s reconstruction, with resources from the UN and international organizations, and endorsed an Arab plan for Gaza’s rebuilding under a transitional committee led by the Palestinian Authority.

The declaration backed the principle of a single Palestinian state with one armed force under the Palestinian Authority, urging Hamas to disarm and transfer weapons to Palestinian security forces. It also welcomed the Palestinian president’s pledge to hold general elections within a year, affirming Gaza’s unity with the West Bank as part of a single Palestinian state.

The draft underscored UNRWA’s critical role, stating it will transfer services to the Palestinian Authority once a fair resolution to the refugee crisis is achieved.