Saudi diplomacy has been very active during September, engaging in communications and coordination with international decision-making capitals to support the rights of the Palestinian people and to stop the hostile military actions carried out by Israel against Palestinians.

The “New York Declaration,” sponsored by Saudi Arabia and France at the United Nations headquarters, saw a broad majority of countries vote in favor of “concrete, timely, and irreversible” steps to end the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and to establish a Palestinian state according to international legitimacy resolutions. This international framework gained momentum thanks to Saudi presence, which since October 7, 2023, has focused on establishing a reliable and practical path to peace in the Middle East.

Riyadh’s efforts have not been limited to political activity and humanitarian aid; there was also a financial commitment to build Palestinian state institutions in the post-Israeli aggression phase, positioning Saudi Arabia as a key player in restoring the two-state solution option, making it not just a moral or symbolic stance but an operational program that all supporting countries should actively engage in politically, financially, and security-wise.

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan emphasized that “stopping the war in Gaza is a fundamental condition to resume any political process,” adding that the Kingdom “will not be satisfied with statements but seeks practical measures on the ground.” He announced a Saudi contribution of $90 million to support the Palestinian Authority, highlighting the understanding that strengthening Palestinian institutions is essential for the success of any settlement; otherwise, Palestinians will feel frustrated and hopeless.

This Saudi direction was echoed by influential leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that “France recognizes the State of Palestine,” considering it “a decision for peace,” and affirmed that any annexation or settlement expansion is a “red line.” Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres thanked Saudi Arabia and France for calling the “conference,” describing the initiative as “pivotal to reviving the peace horizon.” Spain’s King Felipe VI went further, calling on Israel to “stop the massacre” and describing the targeting of civilians and infrastructure as “shameful acts” that violate human values.

Politically, through this diplomacy, Riyadh seeks three interconnected goals: first, to reintegrate Palestine into the core of the international agenda after it was marginalized by other issues; second, to build transcontinental alliances to establish itself as an indispensable balancing power, pressuring other capitals through constant communication to recognize the Palestinian state in the future; third, to ensure that any negotiation path is based on real Palestinian institutions, not nominal ones, to avoid repeating past failures.

Despite these important efforts, the road is full of obstacles. The extremist Israeli government openly rejects the two-state solution and continues settlement policies and military escalation. The internal Palestinian division weakens the possibility of turning international support into a unified national project. Added to this is the essential task of turning international political consensus into binding monitoring mechanisms to make any future agreement enforceable.

Saudi Arabia can leverage this momentum through two axes: first, by using its growing relations with powers like China, India, and Brazil to enhance the global nature of the initiative and urge the United States to pressure Israel and convince Washington that a peaceful solution is also in its interest. Second, by pushing for the establishment of an “international funding mechanism” linked to the New York Declaration to ensure support for the Palestinian Authority and the reconstruction of Gaza under UN-Arab supervision.