France and Saudi Arabia are set to co-host a high-level summit at the United Nations on Monday, just a day before the annual General Assembly begins. The event is expected to center on Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and renewed international calls for a two-state solution.
The summit comes as momentum builds around global recognition of Palestinian statehood. France is poised to formally recognize Palestine, with Belgium reportedly considering a similar move. Their actions follow a historic wave of recognitions over the weekend from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, a diplomatic shift that has drawn sharp criticism from Israel and the United States.
Israel, along with its closest allies, is boycotting the summit. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon dismissed the gathering as a “circus,” accusing participating nations of legitimizing terrorism, a familiar line from Israeli officials in response to Palestinian statehood efforts.
Inside Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing mounting domestic pressure as international recognition of Palestine gains traction. Reports from Israeli media suggest his government is weighing unilateral steps, including partial or full annexation of the occupied West Bank. Such a move would likely require support from Washington, and Netanyahu is expected to lobby for that backing during his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly.
The United Nations, meanwhile, sees the summit as a potential turning point. UN officials hope it can revitalize the long-stalled push for a two-state solution through the introduction of a new roadmap. The discussions are expected to build on the “New York Declaration” — a framework endorsed by the General Assembly earlier this month following a similar conference organized by France and Saudi Arabia in July.
That declaration laid out specific, time-bound commitments aimed at advancing Palestinian statehood. It also condemned Hamas, called for the release of hostages, and demanded both a ceasefire and full humanitarian access to Gaza, where famine and destruction have reached catastrophic levels.
French President Emmanuel Macron will be a central figure at the summit, while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to join via video link. Macron has faced harsh rebukes from Israeli officials, with Prime Minister Netanyahu accusing him of stoking antisemitism and threatening retaliatory steps, including closing the French consulate in Jerusalem or curbing intelligence cooperation.
Qatar, which has played a key mediating role between Hamas and Israel, welcomed the recent recognitions of Palestine, even after an Israeli airstrike earlier this month reportedly targeted its diplomatic mission in Gaza.
On the ground, Israel has intensified its military campaign in Gaza in the face of rising global condemnation. Over the weekend, Israeli strikes reportedly killed at least 25 members of a single Palestinian family in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood. The Israeli army maintains that its operations are targeting militant infrastructure, but civilian casualties continue to mount.
As pressure builds on Israel diplomatically and militarily, Monday’s summit is seen by many as a test of whether the international community can move beyond statements and recognitions, and toward tangible political action.
