NEW YORK: The head of Saudi aid agency KSrelief has expressed optimism about the future of Palestine, underscoring growing international recognition as a key step toward a durable peace.
“Coming from a medical background, I’m naturally optimistic,” Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah told Arab News on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
“With the growing acceptance of Palestine by many countries, especially Western nations, we’re moving closer to achieving a long-lasting solution.”
The High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, resulted in the adoption of the New York Declaration, a comprehensive roadmap outlining tangible, timebound steps toward the peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The declaration, endorsed by the UNGA with overwhelming support, sets out a multi-dimensional framework addressing political governance, security, humanitarian aid, economic recovery and legal accountability.
It also calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, its reunification with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority and the exclusion of Hamas, the establishment of a temporary UN-led stabilization mission, and a halt to Israeli settlement expansion.
“The people of Palestine have suffered immensely for many years,” said Al-Rabeeah. “The two-state solution is the only viable path for long-term peace and a better future for Palestinians.”
Beyond the political landscape, he highlighted critical humanitarian challenges facing displaced populations worldwide, ahead of a high-level meeting on the subject.
With more than 130 million people displaced globally and donor fatigue threatening aid efforts, he called for renewed global attention and action.
“We face numerous crises — in Sudan, Ukraine, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond,” he said.
“This meeting is critical to shedding light on the importance of solving crises, preventing new ones, and ensuring a better future for refugees and displaced people.”
