International diplomatic efforts on Gaza gained new momentum at a United Nations-hosted summit in New York, which called for an immediate ceasefire and Hamas's surrender, and notably saw the UK and France pledge to recognize Palestine should Israel fail to end its assault.
Co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, the summit convened foreign ministers and senior diplomats from over 20 countries. Its final declaration, the “New York Declaration,” outlined a road-map for a two-state solution and demanded concrete steps to end Israel's war on Gaza.
The participating foreign ministers agreed on collective measures to end the Gaza war and achieve a just, lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reaffirming the third commitment to a two-state solution and a better future for all in the region.
The declaration condemned Hamas' October 7 attacks on civilians and Israel's subsequent retaliatory bombardment and siege. It consequently urged Hamas to relinquish its rule over Gaza and hand over weapons to the Palestinian Authority with international support, emphasizing that Gaza is an “integral part of the Palestinian state” and must be unified with the West Bank under PA governance.
In the 42-point joint declaration, the participating countries called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza. They also expressed support for Egyptian, Qatari, and US mediation efforts to secure a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, leading to a permanent cessation of hostilities, the release of all hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.
The declaration affirmed Gaza as an integral part of the Palestinian state, to be unified with the West Bank, emphasizing that there must be no occupation, blockade, land confiscation, or forced displacement of the population.
Furthermore, it stressed that administration, law enforcement, and security across all Palestinian territories must be exclusively under the Palestinian Authority, with appropriate international support.
The conference also endorsed an Arab-Islamic reconstruction plan, initially proposed by Egypt and adopted at a March summit. This plan called for a transitional administration under the PA, backed by a UN-sanctioned stabilization force, to begin work immediately following a ceasefire.
The final communiqué further demanded an end to Israeli settlement expansion, annexation attempts, and settler violence, urging Israeli leaders to publicly recommit to a two-state solution.
Adding significant diplomatic pressure, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer informed his cabinet that the UK would recognize a Palestinian state by September unless Israel ends what he described as “the appalling situation in Gaza.”
French President Emmanuel Macron had echoed this position days before, stating France would announce recognition at the UN General Assembly this September.
“The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to b rescued. Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” he wrote on X.
Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour called the UK's position “historic,” saying the New York summit had launched a “recognition train” for Palestinian statehood. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi also praised the UK statement, calling it “a correct and timely step toward justice.”
Notably, the United States and Israel declined to attend the summit, with Washington having urged allies not to participate. The US State Department criticized the forum as “counterproductive.”
This refusal to engage diplomatically from the US comes amid escalating rhetoric and controversial plans from President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday aboard Air Force One, Trump accused Hamas of “stealing” humanitarian aid destined for civilians.
He announced that the US would partner with Israel to establish distribution points for food and supplies in Gaza, framing the effort as a response to the “devastating humanitarian catastrophe.”
However, when asked about whether there would be any efforts to pursue a longer-term solution, the US President pushed back, asserting that this would be “rewarding Hamas.”
“I don't think they should be rewarded… I am not in that camp,” he added.
This initiative follows a previous US-backed attempt to distribute aid in Gaza. In late May, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced it had begun delivering food assistance through four main distribution centers, where families were screened to verify no affiliation with Hamas.
During that period, distribution sites themselves became targets for shelling and gunfire, resulting in dozens of displaced Palestinians killed as they queued for relief packages.
Both Middle East Eye and the BBC have reported horrific accounts from contractors with the GHF. These sources describe GHF personnel allegedly spraying pepper spray directly into the faces of starving Palestinians, and firing machine guns into crowds of women, children, and elderly people, with one contractor reportedly laughing after a man fell motionless.
Contractors also claimed they were told to “shoot to kill” and referred to Palestinians as “zombie hordes.”
Aid access in Gaza remains perilous amidst a famine worsening at an unprecedented level, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office, affecting 2.4 million people. So far, 133 starvation-related deaths have been reported, including 87 children.
Following months of an Israeli-imposed siege, dozens of aid trucks allowed into Gaza were ransacked by desperate civilians and armed groups, in a deliberate chaos engineered by the occupation forces.
Mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the US are still ongoing in pursuit of a 60-day ceasefire. This would include the release of 28 Israeli captives—14 alive and 14 killed—in exchange for Palestinian detainees, alongside urgent humanitarian aid, and a partial Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
Israel resumed its military campaign on March 18 after walking away from a ceasefire agreement announced in January. The deal was expected to last until the end of its offensive on Gaza, which began on October 7.
