Saudi Arabia is set to convene the inaugural session of a new “international alliance” on Wednesday, focused on advocating for the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to state media.
This “International Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution” was first introduced last month during the UN General Assembly, Saudi media reported, with participation from Arab, Islamic, and European countries.
The two-day event in Riyadh will address topics including humanitarian aid access, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, and potential incentives to advance a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, diplomats indicated.
Sven Koopmans, the EU’s special representative for the Middle East peace process, will attend the discussions on behalf of the European Union, diplomats added.
Amid the ongoing Gaza war, the push for a “two-state solution” with coexisting Israeli and Palestinian states has regained attention, though analysts suggest the goal appears more elusive than ever, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline government firmly opposed to Palestinian statehood.
Saudi Arabia, the largest global oil exporter and steward of Islam’s two holiest sites, paused US-mediated discussions on normalizing relations with Israel following the outbreak of war in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian Hamas forces.
An Israeli airstrike in Beit Lahiya has reportedly killed at least 55 Palestinians, many of whom remain trapped under the debris.
In September, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reiterated that the establishment of an “independent Palestinian state” remains a prerequisite for normalizing relations with Israel.
In May, Ireland, Norway, and Spain announced their formal recognition of a Palestinian state, drawing strong objections from Israel. Shortly after, Slovenia followed suit, bringing the total number of UN member states recognizing Palestine to 146 out of 193.
The recent Gaza conflict began with Hamas’s unprecedented assault on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 individuals, predominantly civilians, based on Israeli official statistics.
Israel’s subsequent counterattacks have led to the deaths of at least 43,061 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-led health ministry, which the UN regards as reliable.
