Even earlier than Western leaders started saying plans to acknowledge a Palestinian state on the United Nations Basic Meeting subsequent month, the Israeli-Palestinian battle was poised to be on the prime of the confab’s agenda.
The Gaza warfare may nicely be nearing a grim second-year anniversary then, with dozens of hostages kidnapped in the course of the Hamas-led assault that started the battle nonetheless in captivity and the Palestinian loss of life toll persevering with to mount within the war-ravaged enclave.
“These nations wish to present that they’re doing one thing, so that they blow off steam by developing with these declarative statements,” Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon stated in a Wednesday interview with The Occasions of Israel, referring to the plans of France, the UK, Australia and Canada to acknowledge the state of Palestine.
The Israeli envoy argued that the bulletins received’t really advance the institution of a Palestinian state on the bottom, which Jerusalem vehemently opposes. What they’ve virtually impacted, although, are the negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage launch deal within the Gaza Strip, Danon stated.
“I’ve little doubt that these selections are hindering the negotiations,” he asserted, noting that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made the identical argument.
An Arab diplomat and a second supply concerned within the negotiations informed The Occasions of Israel that Hamas’s new calls for that led the US and Israel to drag out of hostage talks have been submitted a number of hours previous to French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement on July 24 that Paris would acknowledge a Palestinian state on the UN Basic Meeting in September.
Households of hostages, residing and useless, who’re held within the Gaza Strip, and supporters, march in Tel Aviv calling for a deal to safe their return, August 26, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Since then, Egypt and Qatari mediators managed to coax Hamas to come back down from its new calls for and conform to their proposal for a phased ceasefire that’s practically similar to the one accepted by Israel final month, based on the 2 sources.
Israel has prevented responding to the proposal, although, and is shifting forward with plans for the IDF to take over Gaza Metropolis.
“Issues are at the moment being thought of and reviewed. We’ve got agreed to many proposals to this point and the federal government must decide [on the latest proposal], whereas ensuring that we’re nonetheless in a position to obtain our warfare goals,” Danon stated, ostensibly referring to Israel’s effort to defeat Hamas along with releasing the hostages.
Danon argued that the “disconnected” Western leaders planning to acknowledge a Palestinian state are those ignoring the continuing ceasefire negotiations, with their bulletins really aimed toward bettering their respective home political standings.
Proponents of recognizing Palestinian statehood argue that it’s a ethical crucial amid the continuing humanitarian disaster in Gaza and is a obligatory step to revive prospects for a two-state resolution by actualizing the institution of a Palestinian state that they wish to exist alongside Israel.
However with no Israeli buy-in, Hamas nonetheless probably the most dominant Palestinian drive in Gaza and Israeli steps aimed that threat collapsing an already-weak Palestinian Authority within the West Financial institution, it’s unclear how recognition will shift dynamics on the bottom.
Smoke billows after an Israeli military operation within the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza Metropolis on August 26, 2025. (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
Israeli forces over Arab troops in Gaza
Danon acknowledged that France’s statehood recognition initiative was coupled with a joint assertion backed by your entire Arab League calling for Hamas to disarm and finish its rule in Gaza.
“However after I requested my colleagues how precisely Hamas could be faraway from Gaza, they didn’t have an excellent reply,” the Israeli envoy recalled.
The Biden administration secured commitments from a number of Arab nations to offer funding and troops to assist safe and revive the Strip after the warfare, together with by working to disarm the remnants of Hamas, a former US official and an Arab diplomat have informed The Occasions of Israel.
Nonetheless, that help from Arab nations stays conditioned on the Gaza reconstruction’s inclusion of a reformed Palestinian Authority, as a part of the institution of a pathway towards a two-state resolution — one thing Israel vehemently opposes.
Danon was dismissive of the Arab supply, suggesting worldwide forces wouldn’t be prepared to enter Gaza as long as Hamas remains to be energetic within the Strip.
Israeli troopers work on their armored automobiles parked in a staging space close to the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Tuesday, August 26, 2025. (AP Photograph/Maya Levin)
Within the meantime, Israel goes about making an attempt to eradicate Hamas by itself, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framing an upcoming operation to take over Gaza Metropolis as being aimed toward dismantling the fear group’s ultimate stronghold. Nonetheless, the premier characterised a 2024 invasion of Rafah in an analogous method, whereas Hamas has tailored from an organized militia to a guerrilla insurgency that goals to thrive off an prolonged Israeli presence in Gaza.
Danon insisted that Israeli army stress on Hamas is what introduced the terrorist group to launch hostages previously — “Not declarations on the UN or discussions within the Safety Council.”
“We’re combating in order that at this time’s Hamas shouldn’t be the Hamas of October 7, quite than issuing statements on the UN in an air-conditioned room,” he stated.
‘Marketing campaign run from Paris’
Danon surmised that the drive behind the newest plans to acknowledge a Palestinian state shouldn’t be coming from Ramallah this time, however quite Paris.
“The marketing campaign is being run from Paris, which isn’t solely recognizing [a Palestinian state], however can also be pressuring different nations” to do the identical, Danon stated, whereas highlighting that the recognitions have been hailed by Hamas because the “fruit” of its October 7 onslaught.
The Israeli envoy stated he has been in contact with French officers who’ve stored Jerusalem knowledgeable of their plans “after the actual fact.”
As for whether or not any of the nations planning to acknowledge a Palestinian state subsequent month may backtrack, Danon was not definitive, however he did observe nations like Germany which have resisted the pattern, arguing that the circumstances aren’t ripe and that it received’t enhance the state of affairs on the bottom.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron maintain a joint press convention in London, July 10, 2025. (Leon Neal/Pool Photograph through AP)
Requested whether or not there’s a technique to reduce the impression of the Palestine recognitions, Danon stated Israel is in dialogue with varied nations on the matter.
“We’re conveying our messages, however it’s clear to us that proper now the environment is a difficult one, provided that we’re virtually two years because the occasions of October 7,” he defined. “We’re combating day by day to remind the world concerning the hostages, about whom we hear much less and fewer from different nations.”
No US-Israeli retaliation deliberate
Danon stated Israel is intently coordinating with the US on the matter however that there is no such thing as a joint marketing campaign aimed toward sanctioning nations that select to acknowledge a Palestinian state.
Washington has come out in opposition to the transfer and has criticized nations which have taken the step, however US President Donald Trump has additionally said the leaders concerned have a proper to their opinions on the matter.
Nonetheless, the Israeli envoy hailed the Trump administration’s effort to assist Israel on the UN, together with securing invites for former Hamas captives and hostage households to temporary the Safety Council.
March 20, 2025, New York, New York, United States: Ambassador Dorothy Shea of USA speaks to the press forward of Safety Council assembly on the state of affairs within the Center East together with the Palestinian query at UN Headquarters in New York (Credit score Picture: © Lev Radin/Pacific Press through ZUMA Press Wire)
Whereas the Biden administration took comparable steps, Danon argued that Israel needed to work more durable to safe its assist than it has since Trump took workplace.
The Biden administration blocked repeated Safety Council resolutions and joint statements calling for a right away ceasefire in Gaza however did permit two measures opposed by Israel to go — one which referred to as for growing help into the Strip and one other that referred to as for an unconditional hostage launch and ceasefire in the course of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in March 2024.
“It felt generally as if it was costing them [to support the Israeli government’s positions]. It wasn’t straightforward for them,” Danon maintained. “With the present administration, you possibly can see that they’re genuinely proud to be supporting us, and the choice to take action is extra pure for them.”
Ignoring Smotrich and Ben Gvir
Ties with nearly each certainly one of Israel’s different allies haven’t been practically as heat because the Gaza warfare has dragged on, with a lot of them taking explicit subject with remarks by Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and different far-right members of Netanyahu’s authorities who’ve spoken in favor of clearing the Strip of Palestinians and constructing Israeli settlements of their stead.
Danon pushed again on the notion that nations ought to be citing such feedback when justifying their stances in opposition to Israel, saying “they know higher than that.”
“They know politics, the parliament and the system in Israel; they usually know that what in the end counts are the choices made by the cupboard,” Danon stated. “Subsequently, it’s handy for them to deal with varied statements, however they know nicely that these will not be what has an impression.”
Non secular Zionism occasion occasion chief Bezalel Smotrich (proper) and Otzma Yehudit occasion chief Itamar Ben Gvir are seen throughout a vote on the Knesset in Jerusalem, on December 28, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
Nonetheless, Netanyahu’s critics retort that he’s beholden to those self same far-right coalition companions to maintain his authorities intact and that he has prosecuted the warfare to this point in a fashion that leaves the choice that their hardline agenda will probably be realized.
The premier himself has stated he opposes establishing settlements in Gaza, however he has additionally expressed support for a Better Israel and backs “voluntary migration” of Gazans, which critics declare is a euphemism for ethnic cleaning.
Nonetheless, Danon pushed again on these specializing in Israel’s hardline ministers, arguing that “the federal government is accountable.”
“Although we determined to pursue an aggressive [military] coverage, we did it in an orderly method and have minimized hurt to the civilian inhabitants by permitting them to evacuate and for a humanitarian response to be stood up,” he stated.
‘Hamas starvation marketing campaign’
Rights teams have pointed to repeated situations the place Israeli strikes have killed scores of civilians, whereas the IDF maintains that it takes steps to keep away from civilian casualties, whereas Hamas hides amongst them.
However Israel additionally instituted a 78-day blockade from March via Could that worldwide organizations say has introduced Gaza to the brink of widespread famine.
Pressed on whether or not that blockade was a mistake, Danon faulted a “profitable Hamas marketing campaign” aimed toward convincing the worldwide group that there’s widespread starvation in Gaza.
Individuals wait as they attempt to get rice from a charity kitchen offering meals at no cost within the west of Gaza Metropolis, on August 28, 2025. (BASHAR TALEB / AFP)
He likened it to the hassle to painting Israel as deliberately focusing on hospitals, with out mentioning that Hamas makes use of them for army functions.
He proceeded to defend the choice to implement the blockade, arguing that Israel believed in March that sufficient help had entered the Strip in the course of the six-week ceasefire that preceded the transfer.
“We see at this time that even when the crossings are open and there’s no meals scarcity, Hamas’s starvation marketing campaign continues,” Danon stated. “I assume they’d have run an analogous marketing campaign, no matter whether or not we had made the choice” to halt help.
Fatigued Diaspora Jewry
On prime of Israel’s fraying diplomatic standing has been the warfare’s pressure on Jerusalem’s ties with Diaspora Jewry, one thing to which Danon has been extra uncovered, given his posting in New York Metropolis.
“I positively acknowledge that there’s fatigue,” he stated. “Fatigue exists each in Israel and amongst pals of Israel and Jewish communities after two very, very intense years.”
International Minister Gideon Sa’ar speaks on the Convention of Presidents of Main American Jewish Organizations in New York, in a picture launched on August 26, 2025. (Ohad Kab/International Ministry)
“In my conversations with [Jewish community] leaders, I inform them that that is certainly a difficult time however that we have to show power and endurance and proceed to combat” to defend Israel’s warfare, Danon added.
Danon stated he’d be taking that strategy to the upcoming Basic Meeting high-level week that he expects will probably be “hostile and difficult” for Israel.
“If earlier Basic Aassembly’s centered on Ukraine or South Sudan, I feel it’s clear that this time all eyes will probably be on what’s taking place by us,” Danon stated, including that Israel was utilizing the chance to lift the plight of the hostages by having their households come to the UN to “remind the world why we’re persevering with this warfare.”
