Since October 7, 2023, Saudi Arabia has visibly intensified its engagement with the Palestinian cause, moving beyond rhetoric to strategic action. This shift signals more than a humanitarian or political gesture — it reveals a long-term vision for regional stability, anchored in the Kingdom’s growing global influence and its commitment to justice for Palestinians.
Saudi Arabia’s approach has included:
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Hosting and co-sponsoring major international conferences
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Providing significant humanitarian aid to both Gaza and the West Bank
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Building broad diplomatic alliances, especially in Europe
🕊️ From Advocacy to Diplomacy: A Strategic Shift
The most prominent example of this evolution was the International Conference on the Two-State Solution, held in July 2025 at the UN headquarters in New York. Co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, the summit gathered representatives from over 125 countries, aiming to forge a credible political roadmap to:
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End the war in Gaza
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Recognize a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders
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Establish East Jerusalem as its capital
The conference produced a comprehensive declaration, featuring time-bound measures such as:
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An immediate ceasefire
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Administrative transfer of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority
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Deployment of a UN-supervised international mission to stabilize the territory
🗣️ Saudi and French Leadership Reframe the Peace Process
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan called the declaration a “practical and actionable framework” encompassing political, humanitarian, legal, and security dimensions — a bold departure from prior stalled efforts. He urged UN member states to endorse the final text before the General Assembly convenes in September 2025.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot emphasized that the summit represented a “turning point,” both in ceasing violence against civilians and in advancing the two-state solution.
“The Kingdom will not normalize relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is established, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
— Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Address to the Saudi Shoura Council, September 2024
This unequivocal statement firmly aligned Saudi normalization efforts with Palestinian statehood, signaling a unified Arab and European front that places peace at the center of normalization.
🔄 Key Strategic Gains
The conference yielded three pivotal outcomes:
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Reviving global focus on the two-state solution post-Gaza war.
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Reaffirming the Palestinian Authority’s legitimacy as the sole representative body.
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Linking normalization with political resolution — no peace without statehood.
Additionally, the event catalyzed momentum in European recognition of Palestine. France is expected to formally recognize the State of Palestine in September, joined potentially by Ireland, Portugal, and the UK — a seismic shift in European foreign policy.
⚖️ Rebalancing the Global Diplomatic Order
For the first time in decades, a framework for Palestinian statehood has been advanced outside of US mediation, with Saudi Arabia and France leading the way. This reflects:
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The diplomatic rise of the Middle East
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The diminishing hegemony of traditional Western powers
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Growing multipolarity in conflict resolution
France’s assertiveness, diverging from Germany’s cautious approach, establishes Paris as a parallel mediator, applying pressure on Israel while aligning with international law and public sentiment. This diplomatic recalibration reflects a deeper disillusionment in Europe with Israeli military tactics and settlement policies.
Importantly, the declaration also labeled settler violence as “terrorism,” reinforcing the illegality of land annexations, civilian attacks, and expansion of settlements in occupied territories.
🇵🇸 The Path Ahead: Intensifying Pressure for Peace
What’s next?
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Political pressure on Israel will escalate if France and the UK move forward with recognition.
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Saudi Arabia is expected to intensify diplomatic efforts at the UN and other forums.
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Engagement with the Trump administration (expected to return in 2025) will be critical to persuading Washington that a credible peace process aligns with US, Israeli, and Arab interests.
The region now faces a crossroads: either embrace a path toward peace and statehood, or continue down a road of violence, radicalization, and despair — a future that serves no one.
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