Saudi envoy calls two-state solution essential to ending Gaza conflict

Tuesday 29 July 2025 - 16:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Saudi envoy calls two-state solution essential to ending Gaza conflict

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States, Princess Reema bint Bandar, has reaffirmed the Kingdom’s stance that a two-state solution is the only viable path to end the conflict between Israel and Palestine, rebuild Gaza, and ensure long-term peace in the region. Her remarks came during a high-level conference at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, aimed at advancing Palestinian statehood.

Saudi Arabia’s long-standing commitment to peace

Princess Reema underlined the Kingdom’s decades-long advocacy for a two-state solution, emphasizing its moral, strategic, and practical necessity. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has long-advocated for a two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace, one that ensures dignity and self-determination for Palestinians while establishing a foundation of security and stability for Israel and the region,” she said.

She linked this vision to Saudi Arabia’s broader modernization goals under Vision 2030, highlighting the pursuit of regional peace as a central tenet of the Kingdom’s history and future aspirations.

Normalization tied to Palestinian statehood

Referencing the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, Princess Reema highlighted the potential for normalization between Israel and Arab states in exchange for the establishment of a Palestinian state. “This vision offers Israel full normalization with the Arab world in exchange for Palestinian statehood,” the ambassador remarked, adding that the two-state solution addresses the root causes of the conflict: the denial of Palestinian self-determination and the insecurity fueling extremism on both sides.

Gaza’s humanitarian crisis

The ambassador painted a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where 1.9 million Palestinians are displaced, and famine looms as aid remains insufficient. “The humanitarian toll is staggering,” she warned, stressing that without a two-state solution, the region risks perpetuating a cycle of violence that empowers extremists and deepens despair.

Princess Reema urged global leaders to act decisively, stating, “The suffering in Gaza, the despair in the West Bank, and the insecurity in Israel demand a new reality. A two-state solution is not a dream; it is the only path to justice, security, and stability.”

UN conference seeks progress despite boycotts

The conference, officially titled the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, brought together representatives from nations including Spain, Jordan, Indonesia, Italy, and Brazil, as well as organizations such as the League of Arab States and the European Union.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the gathering a “decisive turning point,” urging global action to realize a viable two-state solution. However, the United States and Israel boycotted the event, with critics labeling it “a gift to Hamas” and arguing that it failed to address key security concerns.

Despite these setbacks, the conference marked a renewed diplomatic effort led by Saudi Arabia to mobilize international support for a just resolution to the conflict. Princess Reema closed her address with a call for urgent action, saying, “The world must stand on the right side of history – now.”