Egypt’s PM says in New York Middle East peace requires Palestinian state

Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said on Wednesday that peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through a political settlement that ends the occupation and establishes a Palestinian state along the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Madbouly made the remarks while delivering Egypt’s statement at a summit on Palestine and the two-state solution, co-chaired by Britain, France, and Canada on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Representing President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the UN gathering, Madbouly said the foundations of the two-state solution face unprecedented challenges, including Israeli settlement expansion and land seizures, rising settler violence in the West Bank, and attempts to alter the historical and legal status of East Jerusalem.

He also pointed to Israel’s continued control over large areas of the Gaza Strip and restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, according to the Egyptian government statement.

Egypt welcomed steps taken by Britain, France, Canada, and other countries to address settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, while calling for practical measures to prevent annexation, settlement expansion, and the displacement of Palestinians.

Madbouly also stressed the need to support the Palestinian Authority and preserve its ability to carry out its responsibilities, to enable it to resume its role in Gaza while safeguarding the unity of Palestinian territory and institutions.

On Gaza, Madbouly called for the full and simultaneous implementation of US President Donald Trump’s plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803. This includes upholding the ceasefire, facilitating humanitarian aid, an Israeli withdrawal, weapons control, deployment of an international stabilisation force, empowering the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, and launching reconstruction.

Resolution 2803, adopted by the Security Council on Nov. 17, 2025, endorsed Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and authorised the establishment of a temporary International Stabilisation Force in Gaza. It also called for the maintenance of the ceasefire and the resumption of humanitarian aid.

Madbouly reiterated Egypt’s categorical rejection of any annexation of Palestinian territory or displacement of the Palestinian people, stressing the need to preserve the unity and territorial contiguity of Palestinian lands.

He said Egypt would continue working with its international partners to protect the two-state solution and pursue peace in the region.