UN-backed Israel-Palestine peace talks suspended amid escalating regional tensions
The suspension, while temporary, marks a serious diplomatic setback for multilateral efforts aimed at resuscitating a two-state framework between Israel and Palestine.
A United Nations-backed peace conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been suspended due to growing instability across the region, France and Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday in a joint statement supported by over 20 countries, including Indonesia and Jordan.
The high-level segment of the United Nations International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Two-State Solution was halted amid what the statement described as "continued developments and escalations in the region."
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The suspension, while temporary, marks a serious diplomatic setback for multilateral efforts aimed at resuscitating a two-state framework between Israel and Palestine.
"These events are a stark reminder of the fragility of the current situation and the urgent need to restore calm, uphold international law, and reinvigorate diplomacy," the co-chairs said.
Despite the pause, the coalition — which includes the European Union, Brazil, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, and the League of Arab States — reaffirmed its commitment to the two-state solution and said technical roundtable discussions will continue in the interim.
Uphold international law
The Saudi-led statement called on all sides to double efforts to uphold international law and "achieve a just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian question," urging an end to the war in Gaza and the protection of civilian lives.
Notably, the communiqué emphasised that the conference will resume at the "soonest possible opportunity," signalling that diplomatic backchannels remain open despite the halt.
This development comes as humanitarian conditions in Gaza worsen and regional tempers flare, raising concerns about the long-term viability of a negotiated peace.
While the statement avoids naming specific parties, its timing reflects growing international frustration with both Israel's military actions and the political stagnation surrounding Palestinian statehood.
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