Statement at the United Nations Conference on the Two-State Solution for Israel and Palestine 29 July 2025

Statement by Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland

At the United Nations Conference on the Two-State Solution for Israel and Palestine 29 July 2025

Distinguished Co-chairs, dear colleagues

Iceland recognized the independence and sovereignty of the State of Palestine in 2011, being one of the first in Western Europe to do so.

Our position then and now is firmly founded in our belief in equal rights of both peoples to self-determination, Israelis and Palestinians, and the conviction that it is the only way forward to build lasting peace and stability in the region.

We applaud France for announcing that they now intend to take the same step, here in New York in September, and we encourage others to do the same.

There are those who claim that recognition of Palestine is and would be a reward to terrorist groups that oppose peace. I say, however, that recognition is not a gift; it is a rightful affirmation of statehood, necessary to enable meaningful negotiations between equals and to give effect to the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination.

Mr. Chair

Looking back in history, while the conflict which followed the vote in the UN back in 1947 caused great pain and suffering, it also gave rise to the State of Israel and came to represent the fulfilled right of the Jewish people to their own state, and their right to self-determination.

Incidentally, it fell to Iceland’s first Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mr. Thor Thors, to present the draft resolution on recommending two states, one Jewish and one Arab, before the General Assembly.

What has, however, been tragically unfulfilled ever since, is the other half of the equation, an “Independent Arab State” in Palestine, realizing the right of Palestinian self-determination.

Regrettably, the prospects for two states living side by side in peace and prosperity have diminished over the past decade, especially in the last 20 months, and there are those who want to take it off the table altogether.

This, distinguished audience, cannot stand.

As we gather this week in New York, surely everyone present, as well as those absent, must realise that the situation in Gaza and in the West Bank has long since become unbearable.

We simply cannot continue in the same vein. We need to turn to the solution recognized as the only sustainable solution to this most difficult of issues. The two-state solution.

We must reaffirm that the people of Israel have the right to live in peace and security, free from terrorism, incitement and hate. And equally the Palestinian people also have the right to live in dignity, with sovereignty, on their own land, within internationally recognized borders, free from violence, oppression and occupation.

Mr. Chair

Iceland condemned, in the strongest terms, the heinous terrorist attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023, and we continue to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. We furthermore agree with President Abbas´s important statement in June that Hamas can have no role in the future governance of Gaza or other parts of Palestine.

At the same time, we protest unequivocally the unacceptable civilian death toll in Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, as well as the prolonged restrictions on humanitarian access to Gaza. Israel´s military campaign in Gaza is simply an affront to the concept of international law.

We also condemn settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and reject outright the expansion by Israel of its illegal settlements in the West Bank. This is an obvious and blatant annexation designed to obstruct the realisation of the two-state solution and contradicts international law.

The Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice has given us a very clear compass. No state may recognize changes imposed by force or through occupation – including in East Jerusalem – except through mutual agreement.

Co-chairs:

The future State of Palestine must be built on the foundations of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Political and institutional reform may be necessary but with support from the international community the State of Palestine can well succeed based on the foundations already erected by the Palestinian Authority and by international partners, such as UNRWA.

To reconfirm Iceland's continued engagement and support I am looking forward to signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Palestine which enshrines Iceland’s intention to support Palestinians and the strengthening of Palestinian institutions.

In conclusion,

To all the people; the innocent children, women, disabled people, older people, men and families. We say: we see your suffering in this horrific situation, your resilience, and your right to peace.

To the rest of the world, we say: the time for action is now. Not after more lives are lost. Not after more walls go up. Right now. 

Thank you.