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STORY: UNGA80 / PALESTINE TWO-STATE SOLUTION
TRT: 08:15
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: FRENCH / ARABIC / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 22 SEPTEMBER 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters
22 SEPTEMBER 2025, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, General Assembly
3. Various shots, French President Emmanuel Macron’s arrival at GA
4. Wide shot, Macron walks up to the GA rostrum
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Emmanuel Macron, President, France:
“The time has come to free the 48 hostages detained by Hamas. The time has come to stop war, the bombing in Gaza, the massacres, and the fleeing people. The time has come because there's a pressing urgency everywhere. The time for peace has come because we're just a few moments away from no longer being able to seize peace. This is why we have gathered here today. Some might say it's too late. Others might say it's too early. But one thing is certain. We can no longer wait.”
6. Wide shot, Macron at the rostrum
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Emmanuel Macron, President, France:
“There is a solution. A way of breaking a cycle of war and destruction. It lies in the recognition of the other, of his and her legitimacy. Humanity and dignity. We must reopen our eyes and see human faces there where war has deposited the mask of the enemy or the marks of a target.”
8. Wide shot, Macron at the rostrum
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Emmanuel Macron, President, France:
“The time has come. This is why, true to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians; this is why I declare that today France recognizes the state of Palestine.”
10. Wide shot, Palestinian delegation applauding
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Emmanuel Macron, President, France:
“It will implement the dismantlement and disarmament of Hamas. And this with the support of international partners and the necessary means required for this difficult mission. France stands ready to contribute to an international stabilization mission, as well as to support, together with our European partners, the establishment and equipping of Palestinian security forces. As soon as the negotiations permit, the Security Council could decide to deploy, a civilian and security support mission, liaising with the Palestinian authorities. And with the consent of the Israeli authorities.”
12. Wide shot, delegates applauding
13. Med shot, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas applauding
14. Wide shot, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud walks up to GA rostrum
15. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister, Saudi Arabia:
“The historic position of His Excellency the French President, to recognize the State of Palestine, and the fact that many countries has taken the similar courageous position and the broad support for the resolution of the General Assembly to adopt the declaration, the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the implementation of the Two State Solution that received 142 votes in its favour, reflects the will of the International community to render justice to the Palestinian people and consolidate their legal, historic right in line with international frameworks and relevant resolutions and the Arab Peace initiatives.”
16. Wide shot, Saudi delegation applauding
17. Wide shot, Secretary-General António Guterres walks up to GA rostrum
18. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The situation is morally, legally, and politically intolerable. We must recommit ourselves to the two-state solution before it is too late. A solution in which two independent, contiguous, democratic, viable and sovereign states are mutually recognized and fully integrated into the international community.”
19. Various shots, GA
20. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Those who stand in the way out obligated to answer the fundamental question; what is the alternative? A one state scenario where Palestinians are denied basic rights, expelled from their homes and their lands, forced to live under perpetual occupation, discrimination, and subjugation? How is this possible in the 21st century? How is it acceptable? This is neither peace nor justice. It will only increase the growing isolation of Israel on the global stage. And let's be clear, statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward.”
21. Wide shot, delegates applauding
22. Wide shot, GA President Annalena Baerbock walks up to GA rostrum
23. SOUNDBITE (English) Annalena Baerbock, President, General Assembly, United Nations:
“The decades-long Israeli Palestinian conflict cannot be resolved by endless war, permanent occupation, and recurrent terror. The only way to ensure that future generations of both Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace, security and dignity is the two-state solution.”
24. Wide shot, GA
25. SOUNDBITE (English) Annalena Baerbock, President, General Assembly, United Nations:
“Some would say a piece of paper cannot change realities on the ground for Palestinians. Others will dismiss the vision of two states outright. But the fact remains the New York Declaration was endorsed by 142 member states, and this majority clearly says the war in Gaza must end now.”
26. Wide shot, Baerbock walks away
27. Wide shot, GA, Abbas on screen
28. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mahmoud Abbas, President, Palestine:
“Hamas will have no role in governing. Hamas and other factions must surrender their weapons to the Palestinian Authority. What we want is one unified state without weapons, a state with one law and one legitimate security forces. We stress our condemnation of the occupation’s crimes. We also condemn the killing and detention of civilians, including Hamas's actions on October the 7th, 2023.”
29. Wide shot, GA, Abbas on screen
30. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mahmoud Abbas, President, Palestine:
“We desire a modern democratic state based on the rule of law, pluralism, power sharing, equality, justice, and the empowerment of women and youth. We commend the positions of those countries that recognized the State of Palestine. We call on those who have not yet done so, to follow suit. We call for your support so that Palestine become a full-fledged member of the United Nations.”
31. Wide shot, GA, Abbas on screen
32. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mahmoud Abbas, President, Palestine:
“Our future and yours banks on peace. Enough violence and war. Our generations deserve to enjoy freedom and security. Let the people in our region live in durable peace and good neighbourliness. And I would like to seize this opportunity to address all the Jews in the world, wishing them a good New Year. And to our patient Palestinian people in their homeland and everywhere. I would like to tell you that the dawn of freedom and liberty is coming. No doubt.”
33. Wide shot, delegates applauding
Speaking at the resumption of the international conference co-chaired with Saudi Arabia focused on the question of Palestine and the two-State solution with Israel, French President Emmanuel Macron today (22 Sep) announced that France recognizes the state of Palestine and said, “the time for peace has come because we're just a few moments away from no longer being able to seize peace.”
The UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal recognised a Palestinian State on Sunday, and today President Macron announced that France would join them – to lengthy applause from delegates attending the meeting.
Macron said, “the time has come to free the 48 hostages detained by Hamas. The time has come to stop war, the bombing in Gaza, the massacres, and the fleeing people. The time has come because there's a pressing urgency everywhere. “
He said, “this is why we have gathered here today. Some might say it's too late. Others might say it's too early. But one thing is certain. We can no longer wait.”
The French President emphasized that “there is a solution. A way of breaking a cycle of war and destruction,” which he said “lies in the recognition of the other, of his and her legitimacy. Humanity and dignity.”
Today’s meeting follows the General Assembly's resolution overwhelming endorsement of the outcome declaration from the first phase of the conference, which took place in July at UN Headquarters.
Macron told the General Assembly that the peace plan agreed upon on the declaration “will implement the dismantlement and disarmament of Hamas. And this with the support of international partners and the necessary means required for this difficult mission.”
He said, “France stands ready to contribute to an international stabilization mission, as well as to support, together with our European partners, the establishment and equipping of Palestinian security forces. As soon as the negotiations permit, the Security Council could decide to deploy, a civilian and security support mission, liaising with the Palestinian authorities. And with the consent of the Israeli authorities.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud thanked those countries that have recognized the State of Palestine or announced their intention to do so.
Al Saud said, “the historic position of His Excellency the French President, to recognize the State of Palestine, and the fact that many countries has taken the similar courageous position and the broad support for the resolution of the General Assembly to adopt the declaration, the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the implementation of the Two State Solution that received 142 votes in its favour, reflects the will of the International community to render justice to the Palestinian people and consolidate their legal, historic right in line with international frameworks and relevant resolutions and the Arab Peace initiatives.”
In his remarks, Secretary-General António Guterres repeated his assertion that nothing can justify the horrific 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel nor the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. He again called for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and safe, unconditional, and unhindered humanitarian access – which must all happen immediately.
Guterres said, “the situation is morally, legally, and politically intolerable. We must recommit ourselves to the two-state solution before it is too late. A solution in which two independent, contiguous, democratic, viable and sovereign states are mutually recognized and fully integrated into the international community.”
The UN chief said, “those who stand in the way out obligated to answer the fundamental question; what is the alternative? A one state scenario where Palestinians are denied basic rights, expelled from their homes and their lands, forced to live under perpetual occupation, discrimination, and subjugation? How is this possible in the 21st century? How is it acceptable? This is neither peace nor justice. It will only increase the growing isolation of Israel on the global stage.”
He said, “let's be clear, statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward.”
General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock insisted that the two-State solution is “the only way to ensure that future generations of both Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace, security, and dignity.”
Baerbock said, “the decades-long Israeli Palestinian conflict cannot be resolved by endless war, permanent occupation, and recurrent terror. “
She said, “some would say a piece of paper cannot change realities on the ground for Palestinians. Others will dismiss the vision of two states outright. But the fact remains the New York Declaration was endorsed by 142 member states, and this majority clearly says the war in Gaza must end now.”
Addressing the meeting via video teleconference, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said, “Hamas will have no role in governing. Hamas and other factions must surrender their weapons to the Palestinian Authority. What we want is one unified state without weapons, a state with one law and one legitimate security forces. We stress our condemnation of the occupation’s crimes. We also condemn the killing and detention of civilians, including Hamas's actions on October the 7th, 2023.”
Abbas said, “we desire a modern democratic state based on the rule of law, pluralism, power sharing, equality, justice, and the empowerment of women and youth. We commend the positions of those countries that recognized the State of Palestine. We call on those who have not yet done so, to follow suit. We call for your support so that Palestine become a full-fledged member of the United Nations.”
Speaking to the people of Israel, he said, “our future and yours banks on peace. Enough violence and war. Our generations deserve to enjoy freedom and security. Let the people in our region live in durable peace and good neighbourliness.”
Abbas said, “I would like to seize this opportunity to address all the Jews in the world, wishing them a good New Year. And to our patient Palestinian people in their homeland and everywhere. I would like to tell you that the dawn of freedom and liberty is coming. No doubt.”
Abbas was denied a visa to enter the United States.
Initially, the Conference was supposed to take place from 17-20 June 2025; however, due to escalation in the region, the Co-Chairs suspended it and rescheduled to 28-30 July 2025.
The resumed High-Level Plenary Meeting took place on 28 July 2025.
On 5 September 2025, the General Assembly, acting without a vote, decided to resume the Conference on 22 September during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Introducing a draft oral decision,
The United States and Israel have not participated.
