Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

Following France and the UK, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday local time that Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly meeting in September, emphasizing that his goal was to preserve the possibility of a "two-state solution" to the Israel-Palestine conflict. The fact that three countries from G7 and NATO are ready to join the ranks of those recognizing the State of Palestine is a remarkable development, marking a significant breakthrough for Palestine in its pursuit of international recognition.

Another notable piece of news was disclosed by the Financial Times (FT), which reported on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump said he had seen the images of hungry Palestinians on television and declared that a person would have to be "pretty cold hearted" or "nuts" not to find them terrible. The FT acknowledged that it was a rare rebuke from a US president. While the US government's public stance thus far has been consistent with Israel's, viewing the establishment of a Palestinian state as emboldening Hamas and calling the French, British, and Canadian statements as a "publicity stunt," the FT's interpretation reveals the prevailing international consensus and the deepening divisions in the Western world over the Israel-Palestine issue.

It isn't merely a shift in diplomatic posture but a political awakening born from conflict, hunger, and moral shock. Recently, the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has significantly amplified international calls for the "two-state solution." According to data from the UN, since October 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in over 60,000 deaths. The humanitarian aid entering Gaza is far from meeting the basic needs of over 2 million people. 

Amid such a catastrophe, continued acquiescence to "indefinite occupation" is not only a denial of international law but also a challenge to the conscience of the world. The protracted and destructive nature of the conflict has led the international community to realize that the "two-state solution," while not perfect, is the only viable option. It may not instantly end hatred, but it can offer an institutional framework for peaceful coexistence between two peoples and prevent more children from dying under shellfire and starvation.

China is deeply concerned about the current situation in Gaza and has consistently supported the Palestinian people in their pursuit of an independent state. At the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held from July 28 to 30, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia under the auspices of the United Nations, Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, put forward five proposals. He emphasized that the immediate priority is to achieve a full ceasefire in Gaza to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and called for the international community to take concrete actions to realize the "two-state solution," clearly conveying China's position. The convening of this conference marks the resumption of the implementation process for the "two-state solution" after nearly two decades of stagnation, bringing renewed hope for peace to the long-suffering Palestinian people. 

The Palestinian issue remains one of the longest-standing wounds in the history of modern international relations, and the remedy has been validated by reality: the full implementation of the "two-state solution." Yet key pieces of the peace puzzle are still missing. The US and Israel are effectively pushing the "two-state solution" toward annihilation. Israel should recognize that the international community's support for the "two-state solution" is unstoppable, and that attempting to annex or indefinitely occupy Gaza will only exacerbate conflicts. Implementing the "two-state solution" is the path that best aligns with its own long-term interests.

In fact, some Israeli politicians, such as former prime minister Ehud Olmert, have publicly expressed support for the "two-state solution." Currently, over 140 countries recognize the State of Palestine, including European nations such as Spain, Norway, and Ireland. The global surge of humanitarian support for the Palestinians not only brings the "two-state solution" back into the framework of the United Nations and international law but also conveys a strong international consensus on peacefully resolving the Israel-Palestine issue and supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state. This serves as a much-needed boost for the increasingly difficult situation faced by the Palestinian people.

As more countries choose to stand on the right side of history, the implementation of the "two-state solution" is facing a new window of opportunity. The international community is "racing against time" regarding the prospects for Palestinian statehood. 

Against this backdrop, upholding and implementing the "two-state solution" as well as striving for lasting peace and stability in the Middle East are not only moral obligations but also political responsibilities. We hope that the US and Israel can abandon the wrong logic of "recognizing the State of Palestine equates to a reward for terrorism" and genuinely take on the responsibilities of advocates and builders of peace in the Middle East. We also hope that more countries will join the international coalition for justice to implement the "two-state solution." 

In the face of the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the world has no reason to wait any longer.