NEW YORK, July 28, 2025 (WAFA) - Speaking at the UN high-level international conference on the Two-State Solution in New York, Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said that: “This Conference holds a promise, a pledge to the Palestinian people, that the historical injustice that befell them must come to an end. What is happening in Gaza is its latest and most brutal manifestation, and we are more than ever compelled to act.”
He emphasized that this Conference is a message to the Palestinian people “that the world supports our right to life, liberty, and dignity; that the world supports us in the realization of our rights and of our sovereign State,” and that it is also a message to the Israeli people that there is a path to peace and regional integration.
“It will be achieved through our independence, not our destruction; through the realization of our rights, not their continued denial. That Palestinians are not condemned to perpetual occupation and exile, and Palestinians and Israelis are not doomed to be at eternal war,” Mustafa said. “That there is another way, a better way, that leads to shared peace, shared security, and shared prosperity in our region. Not for one at the expense of the other, but for all.”
Prime Minister Mustafa expressed the State of Palestine’s deep gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France for their leadership and for undertaking the responsibility entrusted to them by the General Assembly to co-chair this historic conference. He also expressed deep appreciation to the co-chairs of the working groups for their dedication, and all states and organizations for their contributions, as well as to the Secretary-General and, through him, all of the United Nations for their relentless efforts to deliver on their sacred mandate, including the UN personnel on the ground who do so at the peril of their lives.
He stressed that the rest of the world has obligations and responsibilities to uphold self-determination and a just and lasting peace. He welcomed the approach taken by this Conference to identify what is required from all actors and to promote concrete and decisive actions, clear mechanisms, and binding time frames.
The Prime Minister underscored that all States have a responsibility to act now to end the war against our people in Gaza, to secure the release of all hostages and prisoners, and to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces. In this regard, he expressed support for the mediation efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States and the actions undertaken by all States to achieve these goals, stressing that the massacres and the engineered starvation by Israel must be brought to an immediate end.
“We all must act to reunify Gaza with the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” Mustafa said, “with no occupation, no siege, no settlements, no forcible displacement, and no annexation, and to rebuild Gaza with and for our people, end the occupation, achieve Palestinian independence, and implement the two-State solution, where Palestine and Israel live side by side in peace and security, leading to shared peace, shared security, and shared prosperity in our region,” the Prime Minister stressed.
“This requires support for the Palestinian Government in assuming its sole governance and security responsibilities in the Gaza Strip and throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory; and that Hamas must end its rule of Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority,” he added. “We are ready to invite regional and international forces to deploy, in full coordination with the State of Palestine, as part of a UN Security Council-mandated stabilization and protection mission to safeguard our people, ensure all parties comply with the ceasefire, and guarantee security for all sides—in support of the role of our Government and our Security Forces, and not as an alternative to them. The ceasefire should extend to all of the OPT and should be accompanied by the cessation of all illegal measures.”
Mustafa also called on all States to take every action possible to end the war against our people, end the occupation, end the conflict, and achieve shared peace, security, and prosperity without delay or hesitation.
The Prime Minister saluted the historic and courageous decision of France and President Macron to recognize the State of Palestine in September, calling on all those that have yet to do so to recognize the State of Palestine without delay. “Indeed,” the Prime Minister emphasized, “the path to peace starts with recognizing the State of Palestine and preserving it from destruction, and by empowering the forces of peace in Palestine, Israel, the region, and the world in their efforts to implement the Two-State solution. A peace that saves and serves Palestinians, Israelis, and the region. There is no viable alternative to the Two-State solution on 1967 borders based on the relevant UN resolutions to achieve peace, and there is no Two-State solution without an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Prime Minister Mustafa reaffirmed that the Palestinian Government is determined to continue the implementation of substantive reforms in impossible circumstances, first and foremost to be able to better serve our people, and also to better cooperate with our regional and international partners. He affirmed readiness and willingness to assume all responsibilities in Gaza and the rest of the OPT, calling on the international community to help put an end to the Israeli policies which, at the political, financial, and military levels, constitute an existential threat to our people, our State, and institutions, as well as to peace.
“The idea that peace and security can be achieved by the destruction or subjugation of our people is a deadly illusion,” he said. “The only way forward is through shared peace and security.”
“Our people are not going to disappear, but they are losing lives and loved ones every single day. Communities are under attack by occupation forces and settlers trying to uproot them every single day. The Palestinian people suffer and cannot be demanded to simply endure. Their agony must be brought to an end. Our people have an inalienable right to live in freedom and dignity in their ancestral land,” he concluded. The region is ready to move forward now, but not at the expense of Palestine and the Palestinian people. The rights of all peoples must be respected. The sovereignty of all States must be ensured. Palestine and its people can no longer be the exception.
“The region is ready to move forward—now—but not at the expense of Palestine and its people. The rights of all peoples must be respected, and the sovereignty of all states guaranteed. Palestine and its people can no longer be the exception.”
The Palestinian delegation was led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and included Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Varsin Aghabekian Shahin, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Stephan Salameh, and Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the United Nations Ambassador Riyad Mansour.
T.R.
