President William Ruto on Monday joined global leaders at a high-level United Nations meeting in New York to reaffirm support for a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict. The meeting, co-convened by France and Saudi Arabia, focused on piling pressure on Israel to end the ongoing Gaza war and embrace Palestinian statehood.
President Ruto stated that Kenya remains steadfast in defending peace and stability both regionally and globally. “We support the pursuit of lasting stability in the Middle East through a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine live side by side in mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. Kenya has recognised the statehood of Palestine since 1989,” Ruto said.
The gathering came after the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed the outcome declaration of the conference’s first phase in July. In recent days, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal recognised Palestine as a state. At Monday’s meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron announced France would join them, drawing applause from delegates. Several European nations, including Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, Andorra, and Monaco, also pledged recognition.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that “statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward.” He condemned the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks but insisted that collective punishment of Palestinians could not be justified. “Without two States, there will be no peace in the Middle East, and radicalism will spread around the world,” he warned.
General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock reinforced that the two-state solution remains the only viable path for lasting peace and dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud urged more countries to take the “historic step” of recognition.
For Kenya, Ruto’s participation underscored its role as a consistent advocate of peace diplomacy and multilateral solutions. His remarks aligned Nairobi with the growing international consensus that a two-state solution is the only way to end decades of conflict.
