Switzerland cancels conference on occupied Palestinian territories due to 'lack of will'

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - Switzerland on Thursday announced that it has cancelled the conference on the application of the Geneva Conventions to the occupied Palestinian territories due to a "lack of will," the Foreign Ministry said.

Bern invited 196 states to the conference, which was set to be held on Friday, on the situation of civilians living in the Israeli occupied territories.

"After examining the state of registrations, the depositary (Switzerland) reaches the conclusion that there is no sufficient cross-regional critical mass supporting the text of the Final Draft Declaration," the ministry said in a notification to the state parties. "It thus infers that the High Contracting Parties lack the will necessary for the holding of the Conference, which will therefore not take place."

Separately, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nicolas Bideau said on X: "Due to the lack of consensus among the High Contracting Parties, Switzerland, as depositary State, has decided not to convene it (the meeting)."