Overview

• Coalition of the Arab League, the European Union and 17 other states signed the New York Declaration calling for a Gaza ceasefire and a demilitarized Palestinian state.
• At a parallel U.N. conference, 11 additional countries pledged to recognize Palestine; 15 Western nations backed the New York Call calling for recognition as part of a two-state solution.
• The declarations make recognition conditional on Palestinian Authority reforms, including disarmament of Hamas, UNRWA involvement and democratic elections within a year.
• Israel and the U.S. denounced the declarations as untimely stunts that legitimize Hamas while 50 hostages remain held in Gaza tunnels.
• The push builds on existing support from 145 U.N. member states and marks an escalation in international pressure on Israel’s handling of the Gaza war.