United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the international community to support a two-state solution "before it's too late" during the General Assembly on Monday evening.
“We must recommit ourselves to the two-state solution before it is too late. The solution in which two independent, contiguous, democratic, viable, and sovereign states are mutually recognized and fully integrated into the international community,” Guterres said.
This comes after France and Saudi Arabia presided over a session centered around the recognition of a Palestinian state. Several Western countries announced their support of a Palestinian state shortly thereafter.
French President Emmanuel Macron opened the session with a speech in which he called for an end to the war and the release of all the hostages.
"We have gathered because the time has come to release the hostages, to stop the war and the massacres," he said in his opening remarks. "Some will say it's too soon, others that it's too late. One thing is certain: we can't wait any longer."
He also paid tribute to the 51 French citizens killed on October 7, and pleaded for peace “in the name of our friendship with Israel and the Palestinian people.”
Abbas says that 'Hamas must have no role in Gaza'
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said in his speech that Hamas must have no future role in governing Gaza and called on the terrorist group to hand over its weapons, CNN reported.
“Hamas and other factions must surrender their weapons to the Palestinian Authority,” Abbas said via video link at a summit on a two-state solution. “What we want is one unified state without weapons, a state with one law and one legitimate security force,” he said.
The Palestinian leader also emphasized his commitment to organizing presidential and parliamentary elections upon the end of the war. "We will draft an interim constitution within three months to ensure the transfer of power from the authority to the state," he added.
“We commend the positions of those countries that recognized the state of Palestine; we call on those who have not yet done so to follow suit. We call for your support so that Palestine becomes a fully-fledged member of the United Nations,” Abbas also stated.
King Abdullah II from Jordan also called for international comittment for a Palestinian state.
"The commitment of many countries today to achieving a peaceful future constitutes the beginning of a long, difficult, and essential process that must be worked towards," Abdullah stated, as reported by N12.
Belgium, Monaco, Luxembourg, and other Western nations recognize Palestine
During their respective speeches, Belgium, Monaco, Luxembourg, Malta, and San Marino all recognized a Palestinian state.
“It is the beginning of a renewed commitment to hope, a commitment to diplomacy, to dialogue, to coexistence, and a two-state solution. To the idea, fragile but still possible, that peace can prevail,” Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden said.
Andorra and Belgium said that they would recognize a Palestinian state once all the hostages were released and when Hamas was no longer in power.
“The effective conduct of diplomatic relations with the new state of Palestine, including the opening of Belgian embassy and the conclusion of international agreements, will be carried out once the objectives of the New York Declaration have been achieved,” Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said.
Israel slams UNGA, says it 'will not participate in this charade'
Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon reiterated Israel's condemnation of Monday’s two-state solution summit in New York.
Danon expressed disappointment towards Macron and assured that Israel "will not participate in this charade."
“On October 8, you stood with Israel, and you spoke about the hostages. Today you’re moving on, you’re leaving the hostages behind,” he said, referring to the countries with plans to recognize Palestinian statehood.
“Many leaders today will speak about the future when Hamas will not be part of Gaza, but I will ask them: who is going to do that?” Danon added. “The responsibility is on our shoulders.”