The United States confirmed on Monday that it will not attend a United Nations summit focused on advancing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, drawing further attention to Washington’s growing international isolation on the issue.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce announced the decision during a press briefing, stating, “The United States will not be in attendance at the conference. We view it as an unproductive and ill-timed publicity stunt that undermines serious diplomatic efforts. It’s a gift to Hamas, which continues to reject ceasefire proposals accepted by Israel that would lead to the release of hostages and bring calm in Gaza. We voted against the General Assembly resolution last year calling for this conference and will not support actions that jeopardize the prospect for a long-term, peaceful resolution to the conflict.”
The conference, officially titled the “High-Level Conference in Support of the Implementation of a Two-State Solution,” began on Monday and will continue through Tuesday. It was mandated by UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/79/23, which passed in December 2024 with 159 countries voting in favor, seven voting against—including the United States and Israel—and seven abstentions. The summit aims to promote the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel as a pathway toward a peaceful resolution of the long-running conflict.
The absence of the U.S. delegation underscores Washington's increasingly isolated stance as global support shifts in favor of Palestinian statehood. The situation further intensified on Sunday when French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that France intends to formally recognize the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders during the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September. Barrot’s statement confirmed remarks made Friday by French President Emmanuel Macron, who declared Paris’ intention to extend official recognition.
If France follows through on the move, it would become the first G7 nation to formally recognize Palestine, signaling a major diplomatic shift. The announcement has already stirred controversy among Israeli and American officials. President Donald Trump dismissed Macron’s comments, saying, “What he says doesn’t matter,” while U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee mockingly suggested that France should offer the Palestinians a state in the French Riviera instead.
The UN summit comes at a time of growing international concern over conditions in Gaza, where aid organizations have confirmed the presence of widespread famine. The momentum behind global recognition of Palestine, and increasing criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza, are expected to apply sustained pressure on both Washington and European capitals to reevaluate their unconditional support for Israel.