Kuwait presses for Palestinian state, end to Israeli occupation at UN peace conference
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Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya has called for an end to the Israeli occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as the foundation for lasting peace in the Middle East.
Speaking at the High-Level International Conference on the Two-State Solution held at the UN headquarters in New York on July 28–29, Al-Yahya warned that the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza, had reached unprecedented levels of catastrophe.
“The ongoing siege, coupled with the denial of food, medicine, power and water, threatens the lives of over two million civilians in Gaza,” said Al-Yahya.
He condemned the destruction of hospitals, refugee camps and water facilities during Israeli military operations. He said that silence over the “crimes committed” in Gaza amounted to complicity and stressed that military arrogance and violations of international law must not be tolerated.
Al-Yahya stressed Kuwait’s consistent call for an independent Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He praised the countries that have recognized Palestinian statehood and urged others to follow suit, describing it as a necessary step towards a just and comprehensive peace.
The foreign minister also called for the immediate reopening of all border crossings to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and expressed rejection of any attempts to alter the demographic structure of Palestine. He highlighted the importance of implementing UN General Assembly Resolution 194, which addresses the return of Palestinian refugees.
Al-Yahya urged the international community to protect Palestinian civilians, hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable before the International Court of Justice and support Palestinian governance and institutions. He emphasized that reviving the peace process based on international law and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative remains essential to achieving a two-state solution.
“The aggression against the Gaza Strip must stop and the targeting of civilians and vital infrastructure cannot continue,” he added.
