Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and Co-Chair of the Conference, chairs the general debate of the high-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. At the left is Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Co-Chair of the Conference. Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe
By Jennifer Xin-Tsu Lin Levine
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 30 2025 – As the starvation crisis in Gaza deepens into what aid organizations describe as a “worst-case scenario,” a growing coalition of nations is shifting its rhetoric and policy toward supporting Palestinian statehood. At the United Nations General Assembly this week, the humanitarian emergency has reignited global calls for a two-state solution and reignited scrutiny of the Israeli government’s blockade of aid.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification published their monthly report on the famine in Gaza on July 29, classifying the region as the highest phase in starvation, with 20 percent of households facing an extreme lack of food, 30 percent of children suffering from acute malnutrition, and two to four non-trauma deaths for every 10,000 each day.
For the past few months, Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly condemned the breakdown of humanitarian conditions in Palestine, criticizing the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) for its failure to protect civilians seeking food and asking Israel to allow outside aid into the borders. The representative for Malaysia called the organization a “death trap.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied these claims, alleging that there was “no starvation” in Gaza and justifying restriction of outside aid due to the possibility of theft from terrorist groups like Hamas.
However, United States President Donald Trump recently broke with Israeli claims, saying that “real starvation” is taking place and promising to set up new food centers.
The United States, as Israel’s staunchest ally and a major co-sponsor of the GHF, has historically refrained from public critique of Israeli policy regarding Gaza. Trump’s remarks mark a significant rhetorical departure from the US’s prior stance and signal what some diplomats interpret as a crack in the long-standing American federal consensus on unconditional support for Israel—especially amid growing domestic and international pressure to respond to the humanitarian toll of the war.
The United Kingdom recently announced its plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September if Israel does not allow more aid into Gaza, continues to annex land in the West Bank, fails to agree to a ceasefire, and refuses a long-term peace process. This announcement was met with extreme pushback from Israel, with Netanyahu accusing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer of “rewarding Hamas” with his promise to officially recognize Palestine.
Earlier this week, 15 member states issued a joint statement aimed at establishing a two-state solution that officially recognized the State of Palestine and urged others to do the same. The list includes Australia, Andorra, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Canada, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Finland and France, many of which spoke at the General Assembly meeting on Palestine over the past few days. The conference, convened by Saudi Arabia and France, was organized with the goal of recognizing Palestinian statehood as part of a peaceful settlement to end the war in Gaza.
Countries like Malta and Nigeria called for Palestinian self-determination at the General Assembly, and Guatemala, recognizing its status as the first Latin American country to recognize the state of Israel, advocated for a two-state solution that centered the maintenance of humanitarian law and condemned both “abhorrent terrorist attacks” and “the response by the state of Israel.”
The Representative for Oman celebrated new countries’ plans to recognize the Palestinian state and criticized Israel’s “deliberate undermining of chances for peace in the Middle East” through attacks on civilians.
The representative said, “In light of this reality, talking about the two-state solution is no longer enough but should be translated into a viable plan backed by serious political will and practical measures based on the approved international points of reference.” The representative continued, “a recognition [of Palestinian statehood] that represents not only a legal and political position but also a moral expression of siding with justice and human rights. These positions enhance the chances for real peace and constitute positive pressure towards ending the occupation and achieving a just settlement.”
As famine takes hold and the death toll rises, what was once considered a symbolic gesture—recognizing Palestinian statehood—has become a diplomatic lever for change. In a world increasingly polarized by geopolitical interests, the renewed push for self-determination is being framed not only as a political necessity but as a moral imperative. Whether this international momentum will shift conditions on the ground remains uncertain. But at the United Nations this week, the message from much of the world was clear: justice and peace in Gaza demand more than sympathy—they require sovereignty.
IPS UN Bureau Report
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Excerpt:
As the starvation crisis in Gaza worsens, more nations speak out in support of Palestine’s statehood.