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Türkiye, the European Union, the Arab League and 16 countries condemned Israel's attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza during a United Nations high-level conference on implementing a two-state solution for Palestine, according to a declaration released Tuesday.
The New York Declaration, adopted at the U.N. High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and Implementation of the Two-State Solution, emphasized that Israel's siege and starvation tactics have led to "a devastating humanitarian catastrophe and protection crisis."
Countries participating in the declaration included Türkiye, France, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Norway, Qatar, Senegal, Spain, the United Kingdom, along with the EU and the Arab League.
The declaration stressed the need for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.
"We reaffirm our unwavering support for the implementation of the two-state solution, envisioning Palestine and Israel living side by side in peace and security as democratic and sovereign states based on the 1967 borders, including Jerusalem, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions," the declaration stated.
Leaders emphasized that ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and implementing a two-state solution remains the only way to meet the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians in accordance with international law.
The document reaffirmed support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, stating: "Palestine's full membership in the United Nations is an indispensable element of the political solution that will end the conflict, and this will enable full regional integration."
The declaration also confirmed rejection of "any actions leading to territorial or demographic changes, including the forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population, which is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law."
Turkish officials issued a caveat during the meeting, stating: "Considering decades of ongoing Israeli practices, the disarmament of Palestinian armed groups is only possible on the condition that an independent, sovereign and territorially intact Palestinian state is established based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, or based on an agreement reached between Palestinian groups within the reconciliation process."
The declaration's annex included numerous recommendations from member states, including:
The conference participants noted they were meeting at a "historic and critical moment for peace, security and stability in the Middle East," warning that without determined measures toward a two-state solution and strong international guarantees, "the conflict will deepen and regional peace will remain unattainable."
The declaration condemned both the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on civilians and Israel's subsequent military response in Gaza, emphasizing that "war, occupation, terror and forced displacement can provide neither peace nor security" and that only a political solution can succeed.
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