As Canada joins France and the United Kingdom in announcing plans to recognise a Palestinian state, the United States under President Donald Trump finds itself increasingly isolated, holding firmly to its pro-Israel stance while offering no clear vision for Gaza’s future governance.
The diplomatic divergence was on full display this week at the United Nations in New York, where a French-Saudi-led conference gathered global actors to reinvigorate the long-stalled two-state solution. The conference, which the US boycotted, marked a turning point as European powers broke from decades of consensus by committing to Palestinian statehood before the conclusion of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
“This is not just symbolic,” said UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. “The global community is deeply offended by children being shot and killed as they reach out for aid.”
While the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has compelled European nations to act, the Trump administration remains steadfast in its support for Israel. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce dismissed the UN summit as a “publicity stunt” and reaffirmed Washington’s refusal to participate, stating: “The United States will not participate in this insult but will continue to lead real-world efforts to end the fighting and deliver a permanent peace.”
Yet critics argue the administration has no such strategy. When pressed earlier this month about the US vision for post-war Gaza, Bruce declined to provide specifics, saying only that “our partners in the region” were working on “new ideas” requested by President Trump—though she refused to elaborate further.
Instead, the only articulated plan from Trump himself has stirred controversy. In February, he floated a proposal for the US to take over Gaza and transform it into a “riviera of the Middle East,” a move that included the forced displacement of Palestinians—later reframed as “voluntary” emigration. The plan was widely condemned by Arab nations and human rights groups and now appears to have been quietly shelved.
Despite growing pressure, the administration has shifted focus to short-term goals—hostage releases and a ceasefire—while deferring broader questions to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During a recent visit to the White House, Trump repeatedly punted governance-related questions to Netanyahu, highlighting the US’s alignment with Israeli military objectives rather than an independent peace framework.
Netanyahu has rejected any involvement of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza’s future. His far-right coalition continues to push for permanent military occupation, the removal of Palestinians, and the establishment of Jewish settlements—a direction that many fear will intensify instability and undermine prospects for long-term peace.
Meanwhile, conditions in Gaza worsen. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reports rising malnutrition, starvation, and disease, as Israel restricts aid and arms rival Palestinian militias to counter Hamas. Israel blames Hamas and the UN for the crisis but claims it is allowing more aid—an assertion disputed by international observers.
The vacuum left by the US has opened space for Europe and Gulf Arab nations to lead. At this week’s conference, they backed urgent humanitarian intervention, reaffirmed support for the Palestinian Authority, and reiterated the need for a two-state solution. Even Saudi Arabia, a key regional player and traditional US ally, joined the call—marking a notable shift.
The Trump administration’s refusal to pressure Israel—unlike the earlier Biden-era Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who intervened multiple times to compel humanitarian aid access—has left US allies frustrated. Blinken’s 2023 “Tokyo Principles,” which outlined a future for Gaza that included Palestinian-led governance and excluded Hamas, have been discarded entirely.
For now, the superpower seat at the peace table is vacant.
“The situation is deteriorating by the day,” said a European diplomat involved in the talks. “Without the US, we move forward against the tide—but we cannot afford to wait.”
The next session of the French-Saudi-led conference is scheduled for September, with or without US participation. But the international consensus is growing: the time for symbolic gestures is over, and the cost of inaction in Gaza is far too high.
Follow us on:
