France–Saudi summit for Palestinian state as Gaza faces acute starvation

The Gaza Strip has almost become a death strip ever since Israel launched a relentless and merciless killing of Palestinian citizens, including children and women, showing little regard for the international cry to stop the ruthless carnage — an act of genocide with the larger conspiracy to decimate the Palestinian state — while the France- and Saudi Arabia-chaired international summit is moving to call upon world leaders to recognise the Palestinian state.

The international community gathers in New York for a two-day summit, formally titled the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, to push toward the long-stalled two-state solution, Arab News reported.

With more than 56,000 Palestinians reported dead since Israel launched its military campaign following Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks — which left around 1,200 Israelis, including 50 French nationals, dead — the situation in Gaza has deteriorated into one of acute penury, where Palestinians have no means of obtaining food, as Israel continues to blockade relief while striking innocent civilians reaching out for aid at UN relief centres, making such scenes a regular occurrence in the news.

The war’s toll has galvanised unprecedented support for Palestinian statehood, with France leading a new diplomatic front by announcing its decision to formally recognise Palestine, joining countries such as Ireland, Spain, Norway, and Slovenia.

France’s move is being seen as a turning point, as it would become the first G7 nation to extend recognition to Palestine. The organisers have framed the conference as both urgent and historic, aiming to reinvigorate the political will to implement the two-state solution through four major thematic areas or “baskets.”

The first area seeks to rally formal recognition of Palestine from more countries, with France and Saudi Arabia arguing that recognition would strengthen moderate leadership and counter the influence of extremist groups.

The second aims at promoting regional integration, with Arab and Muslim nations signalling their willingness to normalise relations with Israel only if credible progress is made toward Palestinian statehood. While no new normalisation agreements are expected, the message is clear: peace must precede full regional cooperation, according to Arab News.

The third focus is on reforming Palestinian governance, as President Mahmoud Abbas has reportedly committed to significant political reforms, including pledges to disarm Hamas, hold elections within a year, and dismantle controversial programmes such as the “pay-for-slay” scheme.

The final thematic area targets the disarmament and exclusion of Hamas from any future Palestinian state, with organisers insisting that sustainable peace is impossible unless militant groups are sidelined. The summit builds on months of diplomatic groundwork and will be attended by foreign ministers and diplomats from across the world, with eight working groups focusing on areas such as humanitarian relief, security arrangements, and post-war reconstruction.

Meanwhile, criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza continues to grow, as 26 foreign ministers recently condemned the humanitarian crisis and warned against forced displacement and settlement expansion. A follow-up summit is planned for September during the UN General Assembly, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as the international community attempts to rescue a two-state vision that is rapidly slipping away.