Saudi-French Statement Urges Swift Action on New York Declaration for Palestinian-Israeli Peace

A joint Saudi-French statement issued at the conclusion of the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution has called on countries to accelerate the implementation of the New York Declaration through concrete and irreversible steps. The statement also welcomed the commitments and measures initiated by UN member states.

Released this morning in Riyadh, the statement stressed the importance of ensuring stability for both Palestinians and Israelis, pledging support for the deployment of a temporary international mission to help achieve security—based on a request from the Palestinian Authority and with the authorization of the UN Security Council—in line with the New York Declaration.

The high-level conference resulted in the adoption of the New York Declaration, which won overwhelming support at the UN General Assembly with 142 votes in favor. The declaration reaffirmed the international community’s firm commitment to the two-state solution and outlined an irreversible pathway toward a better future for Palestinians, Israelis, and the wider region.

New York Declaration as a Realistic Alternative
The statement noted that as the conference was held, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continued to worsen amid the Israeli ground assault on Gaza City, with civilians and hostages paying an unjustifiable price for the ongoing conflict. Against this backdrop, the New York Declaration was presented as a principled and realistic alternative to the cycle of violence and repeated wars.

Support for Palestinian Security Forces
The statement further committed to strengthening support for the training and equipping of Palestinian police and security forces, drawing on existing programs such as the United States Security Coordinator (USSC), the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS), and the EU Border Assistance Mission at Rafah (EUBAM Rafah).

Unifying Gaza and the West Bank
The joint communiqué emphasized the importance of unifying Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, and welcomed the PA’s declared policy of “one state, one government, one law, and one legitimate force.”

Disarming Hamas
On ending the Gaza conflict, Saudi Arabia and France reiterated the necessity of bringing Hamas’s rule in the territory to an end, disarming the movement, and transferring its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international support and oversight. This, the statement affirmed, aligns with the broader goal of establishing a sovereign Palestinian state.

As co-chairs of the high-level conference, Saudi Arabia and France praised the participation of countries that gathered at the UN headquarters in New York, describing the moment as a “historic turning point for peace, security, and stability in the Middle East.”