New York, 22 September 2025 – The UN General Assembly, presided by French President Emmanuel Macron, held a session attended by heads of state and government to “preserve the very possibility” of Israel and Palestine coexisting in peace and security – which the world organization calls the two-state solution.
“We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security,” Macron told the assembly that comprises 193 member states.
Macron and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, whose countries spearheaded the movement to recognize the state of Palestine, led the session one day before the assembly were to hold a world summit (September 23-29) with about 140 presidents attending in person. The UN’s 193 member states have sent delegations to address the assembly session.
“The time has come.,” Macron said. “This is why – true to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians—this is why I declare that today, France recognizes the state of Palestine. Some may say it’s too late; others may say it’s too early. But one thing is certain—we can no longer wait.”
Macron also added that “nothing justifies the ongoing war in Gaza. Everything compels us to definitively end it.”
France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Belgium, Australia are among the many countries are in favor of the State of Palestine. Countries that opposed are the United States and Israel.
“Recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in no way detracts from the rights of the Israeli people, which France has supported from day one and to which it is no less committed. This is precisely because we are convinced that this recognition is the only solution that will bring peace to Israel. This recognition of the State of Palestine is a defeat for Hamas and for all those who fuel anti-Semitic hatred, fuel anti-Zionist obsessions, and seek the destruction of the State of Israel.“
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said at opening of the session that the Israel-Hamas was made the situation in Gaza “intolerable, and it is deteriorating by the hour.”
“We are here today to help navigate the only way out of this nightmare: A Two-State solution, where two independent, sovereign, democratic States – Israel and Palestine – live side-by-side in peace and security within their secure and recognized borders on the basis of pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states – in line with international law, UN resolutions and other relevant agreements. I welcome the measures many Member States are taking to galvanize support for the Two-State solution – including pledges to recognize the State of Palestine,” he said.
Guterres repeated a call for “an immediate and permanent ceasefire; the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; and immediate, full, safe, unconditional and unhindered humanitarian access.” Hamas militants launched attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and abducted 251 others.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was denied a US visa to attend the UN meetings in New York, addressed the assembly through a video set up. He urged Israel to negotiate an “end to this bloodshed and bring about a comprehensive peace in Gaza. We affirm our condemnation of the crimes of the occupation, and we also condemn the killing and capture of civilians, including what Hamas committed on October 7, 2023.”
Abbas declared, “Hamas will not have a role in government, and it and other factions must surrender their weapons to the Palestinian Authority, because we want a single, unified state. One legitimate, one armed, and one law.”
The UN said the nearly two-year old war in Gaza has inflicted widespread and after nearly two years of war in Gaza, the suffering of its residents shows no sign of easing. As Israel launches a major ground offensive in the north of the enclave, attention once again turns to the United Nations.
The session supporting the state of Palestine and the two-state solution was the culmination of discussions over the years. The assembly on September 12 this year adopted the “New York Declaration,” which followed a July conference also convened by France and Saudi Arabia which called for “just and lasting peace grounded in international law and based on the two-state solution.” The declaration urged Hamas to “end its role in Gaza, and handover its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.” The US and Israel, which had boycotted the July conference, voted against the declaration. (By J. Tuyet Nguyen)
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