Switzerland Cancels Geneva Conference on Palestinian Territories Due to Lack of Consensus

Switzerland has called off a conference on the application of the Geneva Conventions to the occupied Palestinian territories due to a lack of agreement among the invited participants, the country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed on Thursday. The conference, scheduled for March 7 in Geneva, was meant to discuss the humanitarian situation of civilians in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. However, after some countries raised concerns, Switzerland informed the 196 parties it had invited that the event would no longer take place.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry, as the official custodian of the Geneva Conventions, decided to cancel the gathering after it became clear that the participating parties could not reach a consensus. The conference was focused on the Fourth Geneva Convention, a set of international agreements from 1949 aimed at protecting civilians during armed conflict or occupation.
This cancellation represents a diplomatic setback for Switzerland, which is known for its role in hosting peace talks and maintaining neutrality. Palestinian representatives criticized the proposed draft of the conference’s declaration, arguing it lacked strong actions such as economic or diplomatic measures against Israel. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also chose not to attend, stating that the draft did not adequately address the seriousness of the situation.
Israel did not provide a response but had previously criticized the planned conference, viewing it as part of a broader effort to legally target Israel. Similarly, the UK and other Western nations expressed reservations about the declaration and its suitability as a basis for attending the meeting, although some European countries had still planned to participate.