New York (UNA/WAFA) - The high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution, held in New York City under the joint chairmanship of Saudi Arabia and France, affirmed the agreement to take concrete, time-bound steps to peacefully resolve the Palestinian issue and implement the two-state solution.
The New York Declaration, issued at the conclusion of the international conference, emphasized the need for collective action to end the war in Gaza, ensure Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and hand it over to the Palestinian Authority "in accordance with the principle of one government, one law, one weapon."
He stressed that war, occupation, and forced displacement will not achieve peace or security, and that only a political solution can achieve that. He emphasized that ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and implementing the two-state solution is the only way to fulfill legitimate aspirations, in accordance with international law.
The New York Declaration emphasized that Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian state and must be unified with the West Bank. There must be no occupation, blockade, territorial constriction, or forced displacement. Following a ceasefire, a transitional administrative committee must be established immediately to operate in Gaza under the umbrella of the Palestinian National Authority.
The New York Declaration emphasized the commitment to support the Palestinian government and Palestinian security forces through funding programs from regional and international partners.
He called on Israel to issue a clear and public commitment to a two-state solution, including a sovereign and viable Palestinian state, to immediately end violence and incitement against Palestinians, to cease all settlement activities, land seizures, and annexation actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, to publicly abandon any annexation projects or settlement policies, and to put an end to settler violence.
The declaration affirmed its commitment to mobilizing political and financial support for the Palestinian Authority to help it strengthen its institutional capacities, implement its reform program, and assume its responsibilities throughout the occupied Palestinian territories. It also called for the removal of restrictions on movement and access, the immediate release of withheld Palestinian tax revenues, and the establishment of a new framework for the transfer of clearance revenues that would lead to full Palestinian control over the tax system, as well as the full integration of Palestine into the international monetary and financial system and the guarantee of sustainable, long-term banking relations.
He called for preserving the legal and historical status quo at Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and for a commitment to adopting restrictive measures against violent extremist settlers and entities and individuals who support illegal settlements, in accordance with international law.
The New York Declaration affirmed that coexistence and normal relations between the peoples and countries of the region can only be achieved by ending the occupation and establishing a sovereign Palestinian state.
The following is the text of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution:
Statement of the Co-Presidency of the Conference: The French Republic and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
In cooperation with the heads of the working groups:
Federative Republic of Brazil, Canada, Arab Republic of Egypt, Republic of Indonesia, Ireland, Italian Republic, Japan, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, United Mexican States, Kingdom of Norway, State of Qatar, Republic of Senegal, Kingdom of Spain, Republic of Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, European Union, and League of Arab States.
1. We, the leaders and representatives, have gathered at the United Nations in New York from 28 to 30 July 2025, at a critical historic moment for peace, security and stability in the Middle East.
2. We agreed to take collective action to end the war in Gaza and achieve a just, peaceful, and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the effective implementation of the two-state solution, and to build a better future for Palestinians, Israelis, and all peoples of the region.
3. Recent developments have underscored, once again and more than ever, the horrific scale of human losses and the grave implications of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East for regional and international peace and security. Without decisive steps toward a two-state solution and strong international guarantees, the conflict will deepen, and regional peace will remain elusive.
4. We reiterate our condemnation of all attacks against civilians by any party, including all acts of terrorism, indiscriminate attacks, all attacks against civilian objects, and acts of incitement, provocation, and destruction. We recall that hostage-taking is prohibited under international law. We also affirm our rejection of any actions that lead to territorial or demographic changes, including the forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population, as this constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. We condemn the attacks perpetrated by Hamas against civilians on 7 October, as well as the attacks launched by Israel against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, and the blockade and starvation that have caused a devastating humanitarian catastrophe and protection crisis. There is no justification for any serious violations of international law, including international humanitarian law, and we emphasize the need for accountability.
5. War, occupation, terrorism, and forced displacement will not bring peace or security. Only a political solution can achieve that. Ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and implementing the two-state solution is the only way to meet the legitimate aspirations, in accordance with international law, of both Israelis and Palestinians. It is also the best way to end violence in all its forms and any destabilizing role of non-state actors, put an end to terrorism and violence in all its forms, ensure the security of both peoples and the sovereignty of both states, and achieve peace, prosperity, and regional integration for the benefit of all peoples of the region.
6. We have committed ourselves to taking concrete, time-bound, and irreversible steps towards a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question and the implementation of the two-state solution, with the aim of achieving, through practical measures, and as soon as possible, the establishment of an independent, sovereign, economically viable, and democratic State of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with Israel, allowing for full regional integration and mutual recognition.
7. We agreed to support this goal, and within a time-bound process, to work towards concluding and implementing a just and comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and Palestine, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid Conference references, including the principle of land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative, in order to end the occupation, resolve all outstanding and final status issues, end all claims, achieve a just and lasting peace, ensure security for all, and enable full regional integration and mutual recognition in the Middle East, with full respect for the sovereignty of all states.
8. The war in Gaza must end now. We expressed our support for the efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to bring the parties immediately back to implementing the ceasefire agreement in all its phases, leading to a permanent end to hostilities, the release of all hostages, an exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the return of all remains, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and we affirmed our determination to work to achieve these goals. In this context, Hamas must release all hostages.
9. We called for the immediate, safe, unconditional, and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian assistance on a large scale through all crossings and throughout the Gaza Strip, in coordination with the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross and in accordance with humanitarian principles. This must include the immediate lifting of restrictions and the opening of border crossings by Israel, the occupying power, and the resumption of energy supplies and the entry of fuel, medical supplies, food, water, and other essential materials. We reiterated that UN and humanitarian personnel must be protected and enabled to operate effectively. We also emphasized our rejection of any use of starvation as a weapon of war, which is prohibited under international law, and the importance of immediate action to address the rapidly escalating famine situation and prevent further famine in Gaza.
10. Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian state and must be unified with the West Bank. There must be no occupation, blockade, territorial constriction, or forced displacement.
11. Governance, law enforcement, and security throughout the Palestinian territories must be solely in the hands of the Palestinian Authority, with appropriate international support. We welcomed the Palestinian Authority’s “one state, one government, one law, one gun” policy and pledged to support its implementation, including through the necessary disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) process, which must be completed within a mechanism agreed upon with international partners and within a specific timeframe. In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international support and engagement, in line with the goal of establishing an independent, sovereign Palestinian state.
12. We supported the urgent implementation of the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation reconstruction plan to enable early recovery and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, while ensuring the continued presence of Palestinians in their land. We encouraged all countries and regional and international partners to actively participate in the Gaza Reconstruction Conference scheduled to be held soon in Cairo.
13. After the ceasefire, a transitional administrative committee must be established immediately to operate in Gaza under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority.
14. We called on Member States, the United Nations and its agencies, and international organizations to provide resources and assistance on a large scale to support recovery and reconstruction, including through a dedicated international trust fund for reconstruction. We emphasized the indispensable role of UNRWA and expressed our commitment to continue supporting it, including through appropriate funding, in the implementation of its mandate. We welcomed its commitment and ongoing efforts to implement the recommendations of the Colonna Report. Upon reaching a just solution to the Palestinian refugee issue in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 194, UNRWA will hand over its public services in the Palestinian territories to empowered and equipped Palestinian institutions.
15. We supported the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission, at the invitation of the Palestinian Authority, under the auspices of the United Nations and in accordance with its principles, and based on existing UN capabilities, with a Security Council mandate, and with appropriate regional and international support. We welcomed the willingness of some Member States to contribute troops.
16. This mission, which may evolve as needed, will provide protection for the Palestinian civilian population, support the transfer of internal security responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, provide capacity-building support for the Palestinian state and its security forces, and provide security guarantees for both Palestine and Israel, including monitoring of the ceasefire and a future peace agreement, with full respect for the sovereignty of both states.
17. We are committed to supporting the Palestinian government and Palestinian security forces through funding programs from regional and international partners, providing appropriate training, equipment, testing, and advisory services, based on the expertise of missions such as USSC, EUPOLCOPPS, and EUBAM Rafah.
18. We also committed to supporting measures and programs aimed at combating extremism, incitement, dehumanization, violent extremism leading to terrorism, discrimination, and hate speech across all platforms and actors, promoting a culture of peace in schools in Israel and Palestine, and supporting civil society engagement and dialogue. We welcomed ongoing efforts to update Palestinian curricula and called on Israel to undertake a similar effort. We also supported the establishment of an international monitoring mechanism to verify the parties' commitment to these goals.
19. We reiterated our firm support, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, for the implementation of the two-state solution, whereby two sovereign, democratic states, Palestine and Israel, live side by side in peace and security within recognized and secure borders, based on the 1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem.
20. We welcomed the commitments of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on behalf of Palestine, contained in his letter dated June 9, 2025, including a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question and continued rejection of violence and terrorism. We also welcomed President Abbas's statement that the Palestinian state should be solely responsible for security within its territory, but that it does not intend to be a military state and is prepared to work towards security arrangements that are beneficial to all parties, with full respect for its sovereignty, as long as they enjoy international protection.
21. We emphasized the need for the Palestinian Authority to continue implementing its credible reform program, with international support, particularly from the European Union and the League of Arab States, with a focus on good governance, transparency, and financial sustainability, combating incitement and hate speech, providing services, and improving the business and development climate.
22. We also welcomed President Abbas's commitment to holding democratic and transparent general and presidential elections throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, within one year, under international auspices. This will allow for democratic competition among Palestinian parties committed to respecting the PLO platform, its international obligations, relevant UN resolutions, and the principle of "one state, one government, one law, one gun," and will enable a new generation of elected representatives to assume their responsibilities. At the invitation of the Palestinian Authority, the European Union committed to continuing to support the electoral process.
23. We call on the Israeli leadership to issue a public and clear commitment to a two-state solution, including a sovereign and viable Palestinian state, to immediately end violence and incitement against Palestinians, to cease all settlement activities, land confiscation, and annexation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, to publicly abandon any annexation projects or settlement policies, and to end settler violence, including by implementing Security Council Resolution 904 and enacting legislation to punish and deter violent settlers and their illegal actions.
24. We called on both parties to continue efforts to ensure that their political parties adhere to the principles of non-violence, mutual recognition, and the two-state solution.
25. We reiterated our support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. Given the current absence of negotiations between the two parties, and the fact that illegal unilateral actions pose an existential threat to the achievement of an independent Palestinian state, we affirmed that recognition and the establishment of a Palestinian state are essential and indispensable components for the implementation of the two-state solution, recalling that recognition is a sovereign decision of each individual state. Full membership of the State of Palestine in the United Nations is an essential component of a political solution to end the conflict, which will enable full regional integration.
26. We committed to mobilizing political and financial support for the Palestinian Authority as it implements its reforms, to help it strengthen its institutional capacity, implement its reform program, and assume its responsibilities throughout the occupied Palestinian territories. To this end, we called on more countries to commit to increased financial support, alongside the European Union and other donors, and to convene an international donor meeting as soon as possible.
27. We agreed to promote Palestinian economic development, facilitate trade, and enhance the competitiveness of the Palestinian private sector. We called for the removal of restrictions on movement and access, the immediate release of withheld Palestinian tax revenues, and committed to reviewing the 1994 Paris Protocol on Economic Relations and establishing a new framework for the transfer of clearance revenues that would lead to full Palestinian control over the tax system, as well as the full integration of Palestine into the international monetary and financial system and the guarantee of sustainable, long-term banking relations.
28. We stressed that commitment to the United Nations Charter and respect for international law are fundamental pillars of peace and security in the region.
29. We are committed to protecting peace efforts from any obstructive parties seeking to undermine the implementation of the two-state solution through illegal unilateral measures and violent actions.
30. We reiterated our strong opposition to all illegal actions, by both sides, that undermine the viability of the two-state solution, including settlement activities, and affirmed our commitment to take practical measures, in accordance with international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024, to assist the Palestinian people in realizing their right to self-determination, and to address the illegal settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, and the policies and threats of forced displacement and annexation.
31. We called for the preservation of the legal and historical status quo in the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, affirmed the essential role of the Hashemite Custodianship in this regard, and supported the role of the Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, which is administered by Jordan.
32. We committed to adopting restrictive measures against violent extremist settlers and entities and individuals who support illegal settlements, in accordance with international law.
33. We are committed to adopting targeted measures, in accordance with international law, against parties and individuals who act against the principle of a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question, through violence or acts of terrorism, and in violation of international law.
34. Regional integration and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state are two interconnected goals. Ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is essential for achieving peace, stability, and regional integration. Coexistence and normal relations between the peoples and states of the region will only be achieved by ending the war in Gaza, releasing all hostages, ending the occupation, rejecting violence and terrorism, establishing an independent, sovereign, and democratic Palestinian state, ending the occupation of all Arab lands, and providing strong security guarantees for both Israel and Palestine.
35. We agreed to take concrete steps to promote mutual recognition, peaceful coexistence, and cooperation among all states in the region, linked to the irreversible implementation of the two-state solution.
36. We called on the Palestinians and Israelis to resume negotiations, with international support, supervision, and guarantees, in good faith and with sincere will, to achieve mutual peace and stability.
37. We agreed to support, in parallel with the conclusion of a peace agreement between Palestine and Israel, renewed efforts on the Syrian-Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli tracks with the aim of achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, and ending all claims.
38. We committed to preparing the ground for a future “Peace Day,” based on the Arab Peace Initiative, the European Peace Support Package, and other international contributions, which will deliver tangible gains for Palestinians, Israelis, and the region as a whole, including in the areas of trade, infrastructure, and energy, enabling regional integration, and leading to the construction of a regional security architecture that strengthens...
39. In this regard, we decided to explore, in the context of achieving a sovereign Palestinian state, a regional security structure that could provide security guarantees for all, drawing on the experience of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), paving the way for a more stable and secure Middle East, as well as establishing a regional and international framework that provides appropriate support for resolving the refugee issue, with emphasis on the right of return.
40. We are determined to ensure that the decisions taken at this conference constitute a turning point, mobilizing the entire international community, at the political, economic, financial and security levels, to launch a long-awaited bright future for the benefit of all states and all peoples.
41. We decided to mandate the co-chairs of the conference and the working groups, including within the Global Coalition for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, to serve as an international mechanism for monitoring the goals of this conference and the commitments contained therein. We agreed to mobilize the international community at the leadership level around these commitments on the sidelines of the 2025th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September XNUMX.
42. This Declaration and its Annex reflect the outcomes of the eight working groups convened within the framework of the Conference, which set out a comprehensive and implementable framework for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-State solution. These outcomes reflect proposals covering political, security, humanitarian, economic, legal, and strategic dimensions and constitute a practical, time-bound plan of action to guide international engagement, implementation, operational coordination, and follow-up efforts toward the implementation of the two-State solution and full regional integration.
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