War in Gaza: Why is the UN trying to revive the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine?

The conference, convened by the United Nations General Assembly and co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was scheduled to take place in June at the highest level. Postponed due to Israel's war against Iran, a first ministerial-level segment begins Monday in New York ahead of a summit expected in September.

For several decades, the vast majority of the international community has supported the principle of a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security. This idea dates back to 1947, when a UN General Assembly resolution decided to partition Palestine, then under British mandate, into two independent states: one Jewish and the other Arab.

The following year, the State of Israel was proclaimed. It was immediately attacked by the Arab states and the Palestinians who had opposed this solution. Israel emerged from this war stronger, with increased territory. The Palestinian state, however, disappeared before it even existed.

Since then, this two-state solution has been regularly put back on the table without ever coming to fruition. And after more than 21 months of war in Gaza, fears that the creation of a Palestinian state is physically impossible are gaining ground. Hence the idea of this conference, which is expected to include Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and several dozen ministers from around the world.

The meeting comes at a time when the two-state solution is both "weaker than ever" and "more necessary than ever," according to a French diplomatic source. The goal: to provide a political and diplomatic response to Israel's offensive in Gaza, which has already claimed the lives of nearly 60,000 people, mostly civilians.

Just before the meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that he would formally recognize a state of Palestine in September . While the conference seemed "doomed to insignificance," "Macron's announcement is a game changer," said Richard Gowan, an analyst at the International Crisis Group. "Other participants will be hastily considering whether they should also declare an intention to recognize Palestine."

Among the major powers that France would like to convince to take the plunge is the United Kingdom. But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated Friday that recognition must "be part of a broader plan." While Germany does not envisage it "in the short term."

At least 142 of the 193 UN member states – including France – now recognize the Palestinian state proclaimed by the Palestinian leadership in exile in 1988.

What are the main axes?

Beyond building momentum for recognition of the Palestinian state, the conference will focus on three other areas: reforming the governance of the Palestinian Authority, disarming Hamas and removing it from Palestinian governance, and finally, normalizing relations with Israel by Arab states that have not yet done so.

But the diplomatic source warned that no announcement of normalization with Israel was expected next week.

The conference "offers a unique opportunity to transform international law and international consensus into a realistic plan, and to demonstrate the determination to end the occupation and the conflict once and for all," Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour pleaded this week, calling for "courage."

Israel under pressure

Israel and the United States, however, will not participate in the meeting.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon "announced that Israel will not participate in this conference, which does not address the urgent need to condemn Hamas and allow the return of all hostages," said Jonathan Harounoff, a spokesman for the Israeli mission.