Israeli Ambassador to UK takes stance against two-state solution amid ongoing conflict

UNITED KINGDOM: Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, has emphatically rejected the possibility of a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.

During an interview with Sky News UK's Mark Austin, she issued a stern warning, suggesting that it might require many more weeks, possibly months, of conflict to eliminate Hamas.

Despite the ongoing weeks of war, Ambassador Hotovely expressed a lack of optimism about the current situation, stating, "There's still no prospect of resolution."

When questioned about the Palestinians having their own state, she responded with a firm "Absolutely no."

Pressed further on the matter, Hotovely emphasized the need for the world to recognize the failure of the Oslo Paradigm, pinpointing the specific date of 7 October and advocated for the development of a new approach.

According to her, Israel realized on 7 October that the Palestinians' intention was not to coexist peacefully.

She argued, "The reason there is no peace is because the Palestinians never wanted to have a state next to Israel. They want to have a state from the river to the sea."

Hotovely questioned the persistence in adhering to a formula, referring to the two-state solution, that, in her view, has failed and contributed to the rise of radical elements on the Palestinian side.

She asked, "Why are you obsessed with a formula that never worked that created these radical people on the other side? Why are you obsessed with that?"

UN General Assembly calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza amidst escalating Palestinian casualties

The United Nations General Assembly convened in an emergency session on Tuesday (12 Dec) to address the Israeli war in Gaza, responding to the escalating casualties among Palestinians.

The assembly passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages by Palestinian resistance groups.

With more than two-thirds of the present countries voting in favour, 153 nations supported the resolution.

Notably, among the 10 countries that opposed the resolution were Israel and its staunch ally, the United States.

The stark division in the voting reflects the ongoing international discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, the Palestinian death toll resulting from the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has reached 18,412, with 50,100 others reported injured.

Ashraf al-Qudra, the ministry spokesman, revealed that health teams in various shelter centers identified 326,000 cases of infectious diseases amid the crisis.

The conflict was triggered by a cross-border attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on 7 October, prompting Israel to launch airstrikes, impose a siege, and initiate a ground offensive against the Gaza Strip.

In response to the hostilities, the Palestinian death toll has risen significantly, while Israel reports a death toll of 1,200 from the Hamas attack, as per official figures.

Two-state solution

The concept of a two-state solution, aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by establishing separate states for the Jewish and Palestinian peoples, was initially proposed in 1993 as part of the Oslo Accords.

This framework led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Amid Israel's ongoing military actions in Gaza following the 7 October Hamas attack, global leaders are revisiting the idea of the two-state solution as a potential framework for shaping postwar policies.

President Biden, in a statement on 25 October, emphasized the need for a vision of the future that includes a two-state solution.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a recent call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussed the "long-term goal of a two-state solution."

The European Council reaffirmed its commitment to the two-state solution in October, and Pope Francis advocated for the "wise solution" of two states in an interview with Italian media.

The United Kingdom continues to support a two-state solution in the Middle East.

UK Education Minister Damian Hinds, speaking on Thursday morning to Sky News, reiterated this long-standing position, emphasizing the international community's desire to see progress in that direction.

When questioned about the potential consequences if Israel does not agree to a two-state solution, Minister Hinds highlighted the current importance of Israel's ability to defend itself, particularly against the threat posed by Hamas.

He stressed the collective goal of working towards lasting and permanent stability, including the release of hostages.

Addressing the challenge of convincing Israel to agree to a two-state solution, Minister Hinds pointed out ongoing diplomatic talks and the longstanding partnership between Britain and Israel.

He emphasized that discussions are continuous and reflect the consistent stance of the UK in supporting a two-state solution.

Human rights organizations allege war crimes and genocide in ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Several human rights organizations are raising serious concerns about Israel's actions in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Amnesty International has documented what it considers "unlawful Israeli attacks," urging an investigation into potential war crimes.

Human Rights Watch echoes these concerns, identifying multiple war crimes in Israel and Palestine, with a focus on indiscriminate attacks harming civilians.

Furthermore, Human Rights Watch points to evidence suggesting that Israeli authorities are engaged in crimes against humanity, specifically apartheid and persecution against millions of Palestinians.

The systematic oppression of the Gaza population is highlighted as part of these ongoing crimes.

The Center for Constitutional Rights, in a comprehensive paper, alleges that there is clear evidence of Israel attempting, if not actively committing, genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly against the people in the Gaza Strip.