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Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud co-chaired the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution at United Nations headquarters according to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Saudi minister delivered remarks on behalf of the kingdom’s leadership conveying greetings from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman while thanking French President Emmanuel Macron the UN secretary-general and the General Assembly president for their roles in convening the gathering. The ministry reported that Faisal bin Farhan highlighted France’s recognition of the State of Palestine and noted the growing number of countries taking similar steps as part of broader international momentum.
The conference adopted the New York Declaration which the General Assembly endorsed several days later by a recorded vote of 142 in favor to 10 against with 12 abstentions according to United Nations records. That declaration commits participating states to tangible time-bound measures aimed at establishing an independent sovereign and viable Palestinian state living alongside Israel in peace and security. It further condemns the October 7 2023 attacks by Hamas against civilians as well as subsequent actions that have produced a severe humanitarian situation in Gaza the United Nations reported.
A joint statement issued by the co-chairs on September 23 2025 commended the participating states for assembling at a critical juncture for regional stability and called for swift implementation of the declaration through concrete steps. The co-chairs welcomed reforms already initiated by the Palestinian Authority including the effective end of the prisoners’ payment system and curriculum updates conducted with European oversight and Saudi support. The statement also noted the Palestinian commitment to transparent general and presidential elections within one year of a ceasefire to enable democratic competition consistent with Palestine Liberation Organization principles.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has described the kingdom’s co-chairing role as part of sustained diplomatic efforts that include participation in follow-up coordination meetings hosted in Riyadh with partners such as the European Union and Norway. Those sessions have focused on aligning the New York Declaration with other initiatives including a U.S. peace proposal and the Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration to integrate diplomatic humanitarian and institutional approaches. Ministry statements indicate the process seeks to support transitional arrangements leading to a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital while addressing security for all parties in the region.
The adopted framework establishes a committee comprising 19 countries jointly chaired by Saudi Arabia and France to monitor and advance implementation according to conference documentation released by the United Nations. This body incorporates chairs of specialized working groups tasked with developing mechanisms for ceasefire monitoring security transitions and economic viability measures for a future Palestinian state. Subsequent gatherings in locations including Rome have reviewed progress on these elements while urging additional countries to recognize Palestinian statehood as an indispensable component of the two-state solution.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan emphasized during the New York proceedings the importance of moving beyond declarations to irreversible actions that address root causes of the conflict the ministry’s account stated. The conference was convened under General Assembly resolution 79/81 and related decisions that tasked the co-chairs with producing an action-oriented outcome to break the cycle of violence and occupation. International partners have since referenced the declaration in calls for renewed engagement on Palestinian institutional reforms and regional de-escalation.
