Egypt Pushes for Revival of Two-State Solution, Calls for End to Israeli Occupation

Cairo’s top diplomat urges global pressure on Israel at high-level UN conference, warning of Gaza ‘catastrophe’ and demanding urgent political roadmap

Standing before a packed chamber at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty didn’t mince words. With Gaza’s war still raging, Abdelatty warned that without a return to a two-state solution, there’s little hope left for peace—or even stability—in the region.

His speech, delivered at a high-level international conference focused on the Palestinian issue, comes as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens and diplomatic fatigue sets in among major global powers. Still, Egypt is pressing ahead, attempting to shake the global community out of its paralysis.

Egypt Ramps Up International Pressure

Egypt’s foreign policy voice has grown louder in recent weeks, and Monday’s address marked a sharp escalation in tone. Abdelatty accused Israel of “daily crimes” and called on the world to force Israel’s hand—starting with a withdrawal from territories it occupied in 1967.

His demands weren’t new. But the setting—a formal UN conference, attended by diplomats from dozens of countries—gave them added weight.

In his remarks, Abdelatty invoked a series of landmark UN resolutions:

• Resolution 242, demanding Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories

• Resolution 446, which deems Israeli settlements illegal

• Resolution 2334, reiterating that settlement expansion has no legal validity

The message? Israel’s continued settlement building and military occupation are not only illegal but a direct barrier to any lasting peace.

The Two-State Solution: A Dwindling Prospect

For many Palestinians, the two-state solution has long felt more like a slogan than an achievable goal. That, Abdelatty acknowledged, is part of the problem. But rather than giving up on it, he argued the opposite.

“This is the only viable path,” he said bluntly.

He stressed that Palestinians must be granted their “inalienable right” to statehood, not as a diplomatic favor, but as part of their self-determination. Without it, he argued, the cycle of violence, displacement, and resistance will only harden.

One diplomat from a European delegation who attended the conference said Abdelatty’s remarks “hit a nerve,” particularly in the context of how normalized Israeli settlement activity has become in global discourse.

A Call for Immediate Steps—Not Just Talk

Abdelatty wasn’t just speaking in the abstract. He outlined several urgent demands that Egypt believes are essential to stabilize the current crisis:

• Immediate ceasefire in Gaza

• Hostage and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas

• Full mandate restoration for UN and UNRWA inside Gaza

• Humanitarian aid access without restrictions

• Backing the return of the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza

Each point reflects Cairo’s growing concern that Gaza may spiral further into lawlessness if political legitimacy doesn’t return to the Strip soon.

Abdelatty also pushed for a broader plan—spearheaded by the Arab-Islamic coalition—for Gaza’s early recovery and reconstruction. He said that without funds and political commitment, rebuilding efforts would flounder under military rubble and political fragmentation.

Egypt’s Balancing Act Between Diplomacy and Security

Egypt is walking a tightrope. It shares a border with Gaza and has historically acted as mediator between Israel and Palestinian factions. But with Israeli operations ongoing and Egypt facing internal political criticism over its limited border access for aid, the pressure is mounting.

For Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s government, appearing too soft on Israel could inflame domestic unrest. But leaning too far into Palestinian advocacy risks alienating crucial Western and Gulf allies.

Still, Cairo appears determined to center the two-state issue once again—especially after months of ceasefire talks, aid convoys, and piecemeal negotiations that have delivered little relief.

A Cairo-based regional analyst told Bloomberg, “Egypt is reminding the world that Gaza is not a crisis to manage but a conflict to resolve. Without addressing the core political issue, this all goes in circles.”

Gaza’s Unlivable Reality

Abdelatty didn’t shy away from describing the current conditions in Gaza as a “humanitarian catastrophe.” He said civilians are paying the price of geopolitical games, and warned that Israeli aggression is pushing the region toward even darker days.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, with thousands more injured. Entire neighborhoods are now rubble. Medical facilities are overwhelmed. Food and fuel are scarce.

Here’s a snapshot from the latest data as of July 27:

Even with “pauses” in airstrikes and temporary corridors, aid organizations say access remains inconsistent and unsafe.

International Response: Tepid but Watching

So far, the international response to Abdelatty’s speech has been restrained. While many delegations expressed sympathy, few offered concrete steps.

One Western diplomat told reporters outside the chamber, “There’s wide support in principle. But in practice, the politics back home makes it hard.”

That’s been Egypt’s recurring frustration: solidarity without follow-through.

Still, there’s some movement. Spain, Ireland, and Norway recently announced formal recognition of a Palestinian state. Egypt hopes more will follow, creating a tipping point that pushes larger players like Germany and France to reconsider their cautious stance.

What’s Next for Cairo?

For now, Egypt will keep pushing its diplomatic agenda, both at the UN and behind closed doors with key allies. It is betting that the shock of the Gaza war, combined with shifting Western public opinion, could reopen the space for a real political track—even if just barely.

But one thing is clear: Egypt’s patience with what it sees as global indifference is thinning fast.