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US calls UN’s two-state solution conference a ‘publicity stunt’
The United States on Monday rejected as a “publicity stunt” a United Nations conference that brought dozens of ministers together to work towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
“This is a publicity stunt that comes in the middle of delicate diplomatic efforts to end the conflict,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
“Far from promoting peace, the conference will prolong the war, embolden Hamas, and reward its obstruction and undermine real-world efforts to achieve peace.”
UN chief says Palestinian statehood ‘is a right not a reward’
The UN secretary-general has called on the international community to take “urgent, concrete, irreversible steps” towards a two-state solution, warning the situation in Gaza is driving Palestinians deeper into despair.
“Let’s be clear: statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward, and the denial of statehood would be a gift to extremists everywhere,” Antonio Guterres said at the opening of a UN conference on peaceful settlement.
“Time is running out. With every passing day, trust is slipping, institutions are weakened, and hopes are dashed.”
Guterres condemned the deepening crisis in Gaza, saying it “has descended into a cascade of catastrophes”.
“I welcome recent steps to reduce restrictions to lifesaving humanitarian aid – but this is far from the solution to end this nightmare. We need an immediate, permanent ceasefire, the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages, full and unfettered humanitarian access. These are not preconditions for peace. They are the foundation of it.”
Netanyahu to present Gaza annexation plan to keep Smotrich in coalition: Report
According to the Israeli news outlet Haaretz, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to present a plan to his cabinet to annex areas of Gaza. The move is an attempt to keep far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from leaving the coalition government.
Haaretz reported the plan will grant Hamas a deadline of several days to agree to a ceasefire, but in the event it is not secured, Israel will begin annexation. The plan has received a “green light from the Trump administration”, the news report said.
However, threats to annex Gaza may put Israel at further odds with the international community and see more countries follow France in recognising a Palestinian state or applying sanctions, it noted.
