India has told the United Nations that the world must now focus on achieving a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict through meaningful talks and diplomacy. Speaking at a high-level UN conference in New York, India’s ambassador to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, said it was not enough to make statements on paper. The international community, he said, must act and find real, practical steps to bring peace.
“Our efforts must now focus on how to bring about a two-state solution through purposeful dialogue and diplomacy, and bringing the parties to the conflict to engage directly with each other,” Harish said.
The conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, took place from July 28 to 30. It discussed the future of peace in the region and how to make the two-state solution a reality. A 25-page document, called the “New York Declaration,” was released at the end of the event. It called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and demanded that Hamas release all hostages. The declaration also said that Hamas must give up control of Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.
Ambassador Harish said that the current moment offers a chance to reflect on the progress made so far in the journey toward peace. He stressed that the focus must now shift to practical steps that can improve the daily lives of Palestinians.
“Let us not be content with paper solutions but strive to achieve practical solutions that actually make a tangible difference in the daily lives of our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” he said.
India has been clear about what needs to be done in the short term. Harish said these include an immediate ceasefire, uninterrupted humanitarian aid to Gaza, release of hostages, and a return to talks. “There are no alternatives to these measures,” he told the UN General Assembly.
He reminded the international community that India was one of the first countries to recognize Palestine in 1988 and continues to support the idea of two states living side by side in peace. “It is also India’s earnest desire to see peace and calm prevail in the Middle East. Lasting solutions are required to achieve this,” he said.
Harish also pointed to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He said civilians there must be allowed access to food, fuel, and other basic items without obstacles. “Humanitarian assistance is vital in sustaining life and must remain outside the realm of politics or conflict,” he said.
He expressed concern over the ongoing suffering of civilians, saying that tens of thousands have been killed, many hospitals have been destroyed, and children have been kept out of school for more than 20 months. He also said the issue of hostages must not be forgotten. “There can be no justification whatsoever for terrorism, for addressing any root cause or political grievance,” Harish said.
He added that in the future, there will be a need for large-scale efforts to rebuild Gaza and ensure security for both Israelis and Palestinians. “Neither party should feel insecure. A sovereign, viable and independent State of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace and security, is a prerequisite for enduring peace and sustainable development,” he said.
India also noted that while aid and support are important, so is creating a hopeful future for Palestinians. Harish said economic structures that allow investment and jobs are crucial, and that India has committed about $160 million to human-focused projects in the region. “Economic prospects and viability for a Palestinian state are crucial,” he added.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also spoke at the conference. He said that the only real solution is the two-state solution. He asked those who oppose it, “What is the alternative?” He warned that the other option is a one-state reality where Palestinians are either denied equal rights or removed from their land. “That is not peace. That is not justice. That is not in accordance with international law. And that is not acceptable,” Guterres said.
He stressed that statehood for Palestinians is not a reward—it is their right. “The denial of statehood would be a gift to extremists everywhere,” he warned.
Meanwhile, UN agencies have reported that food and nutrition levels in Gaza have reached crisis levels and are now worse than ever before.
