Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups met in Paris, France, on June 12, 2026, urging the international community and G7 leaders to keep pursuing a two-state solution amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The conference marked one year since the UN-backed New York Declaration, which set a roadmap toward Palestinian statehood and led around a dozen countries including France, Britain, and Canada to recognize a Palestinian state [1, 3, 4, 6].
Foreign ministers and senior officials from about 40 states joined approximately 15 ministers and 150 to 250 civil society activists from across the Israeli-Palestinian divide at the event [1, 3, 5]. France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot addressed roughly 250 attendees, saying, "We could find every reason in the world to give up. But you are here! Your testimonies alone are grounds for hope and action. France refuses to let the side of war prevail over the side of peace." [3, 4, 5, 6]
The meeting concluded with an eight-point "Call for Action" that demanded a permanent ceasefire, a halt to Israeli settlement expansion, reconstruction in Gaza, governance reforms, and stronger international support for civil society efforts [1, 3, 4, 6]. This appeal will be presented to G7 leaders when they meet in the French Alps starting June 15, calling for urgent diplomacy to save the two-state solution [1, 3, 4, 5, 6].
The region remains deeply fractured. Gaza is devastated and Israel faces security threats. Settler violence and settlement expansion continue in the West Bank, undermining the potential for Palestinian statehood [1, 2, 3, 4, 6]. A particular concern is Israel’s plan to build the E1 settlement east of Jerusalem, which would bisect the West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem from Palestinian territory [1, 3, 6].
Recently, Britain, Canada, France, and Norway coordinated sanctions targeting Israeli networks involved in financing violence in the occupied West Bank [1, 6]. However, Israeli and US governments refused to attend the conference. The Israeli embassy in France called the event unhelpful to peace and questioned France’s role as mediator [6].
Progress on Palestinian self-rule and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza has stalled for six months amid mutual blame: Hamas demands Israeli withdrawal first, while Israel wants Hamas to disarm [2]. Some Palestinian groups met in Cairo from June 9-12 to try to persuade Hamas on disarmament [2]. Civil society representatives criticized diplomacy as too top-down and alien to the lived realities of people on the ground, calling for greater grassroots involvement [2].
France’s foreign ministry spokesperson said, "Given the current situation in the region, marked by seemingly endless conflicts, too many civilian casualties and a cycle of violence ... we believe this conference is now more essential and urgent than ever." [1]
The next concrete step will be the delivery of the conference’s Call for Action to G7 leaders at their summit beginning June 15, seeking urgent diplomatic efforts to revive peace talks and support a two-state solution [1, 3, 4, 5, 6].
