Israel-Palestine Conflict: UN Diplomats prepare ground for high-level conference on two-State solution
New Delhi, May 24: Diplomats gathered at the United Nations on Friday to finalise preparations for a high-level international conference in June aimed at advancing efforts toward a two-State solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, reports UN news.
The preparatory session brought together UN Member States to coordinate logistics and align expectations ahead of the conference, which will feature eight thematic roundtables covering key dimensions of the peace process. These include security guarantees for both sides, the economic viability of a future Palestinian state, and the reconstruction and humanitarian response in conflict-affected areas.
The meeting at UN Headquarters marked a critical moment for diplomatic momentum, following nearly two years of intensifying violence in Gaza and the West Bank. The forthcoming conference is being organised under the mandate of General Assembly resolution ES-10/24 and resolution 79/81, which called for concrete, action-oriented outcomes to support the implementation of a two-State framework. Member States and co-chairs France and Saudi Arabia emphasised the need for the June summit to move beyond reaffirming established principles and instead deliver tangible steps toward peace. The conference is expected to culminate in the adoption of a comprehensive outcome document entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution.”
According to a concept note circulated by the co-chairs, the event will include a plenary session featuring remarks from the President of the General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General, and national representatives. Thematic roundtables will address a range of issues central to any future agreement, including border arrangements, the status of Jerusalem, security cooperation, refugee concerns, economic development, and the broader regional context.
The conference comes amid escalating humanitarian needs and rising civilian casualties, as well as growing calls for a lasting ceasefire, the release of hostages, and international guarantees for long-term stability. The initiative is being closely watched as a possible inflection point for renewed global engagement in resolving a conflict that has persisted for nearly eight decades.
