UK officials developed an "eight-point plan" as part of a diplomatic effort that would end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and promote a two-state solution, The New York Times reported on Sunday.
On July 23, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron convened at a 112-year-old mansion overlooking Lake Tegel in Berlin, where they discussed the Gaza crisis and broader Middle East peace efforts.
Macron, under immense domestic pressure, indicated that he would likely push for recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations later in the year, the report noted.
His announcement the following day, without prior coordination with Germany, asserted that this move was a demonstration of France's "commitment to a just and durable peace."
This shift marked a change in Europe's approach, one that distanced itself from former US President Donald Trump’s policies on the region. A week earlier, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had also voiced support for a Palestinian state, which added to a surge of diplomatic activity from European powers.
This collective action followed the release of images from Gaza, where reports of widespread malnutrition and starvation galvanized public opinion and political leaders alike to demand a more active European role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The diplomatic surge reached its peak with an eight-point peace proposal developed quietly by British officials over the preceding months. The plan, aimed at addressing the Israel-Palestinian conflict while ensuring Israel’s security, was shared by Jonathan Powell, Starmer’s national security adviser, on July 29.
Powell, who helped negotiate the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, worked behind the scenes to gain consensus among European and Arab leaders.
The urgency of Europe’s push was evident, with Arab states aligning with the British plan at a United Nations conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.
The declaration at this event included a significant shift in the Arab League's stance, calling for Hamas to disarm and relinquish control of Gaza, something unprecedented in its prior declarations.
The European push was in part a response to the realization that, after years of failed attempts to work alongside the US, they could no longer wait for American leadership. While some European leaders had been reticent to challenge Israel directly, the growing consensus now seemed to favor a more vocal stance, especially as Israel’s military actions in Gaza escalated and peace negotiations stagnated.
Macron’s subsequent public statement, on July 24, emphasized the "urgency" of implementing a viable solution that aligned with the aspirations of the Palestinian people. “Peace is possible,” he declared, outlining his government’s commitment to advancing a two-state solution, a position increasingly supported across Europe despite potential tensions with Israel.
Israel pushes through with Gaza war plans, unfazed by Palestinian state recognition
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has shown no signs of easing military pressure on Gaza, has effectively rebuffed Europe's calls for peace. On July 27, Netanyahu's security cabinet approved the expansion of military operations, a move that led even staunch Israeli allies like Merz to suspend weapons shipments to Israel.
This escalation has complicated the diplomatic efforts, with Netanyahu maintaining that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is exaggerated and accusing Hamas of hoarding aid.
Meanwhile, in Britain, Labour Party leaders also shifted their stance. Initially hesitant, they found themselves unable to ignore the growing pressure from both international allies and domestic activists, leading Starmer to support Palestinian state recognition.
His foreign secretary, David Lammy, had previously argued that recognizing Palestine was symbolic, but by July 19, as settlement expansions in the West Bank were announced, and shocking images from Gaza circulated, the Labour government pivoted to a more assertive position.
The diplomatic efforts culminated in a joint statement from Macron, Merz, and Starmer on July 25, calling for an end to the war, the release of hostages, and the disarmament of Hamas. The trio also called for massive aid to Gaza, signaling a coordinated European push for peace. They agreed on the need for a comprehensive strategy that would eventually lead to a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement.