A death spiral in Gaza with no end in sight; a Middle East peace process that’s been moribund for years. What’s the point of talking solutions when not even a truce is in sight? In New York next week, France is slated to co-chair with Saudi Arabia what's officially billed as a "UN International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution".

Emmanuel Macron had strongly suggested he would recognise a Palestinian state at the event. Is that still the case? We ask about the pressure on the French president to dial it back. With the US silent as Israel pounds Gaza and expands illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank, what does recognising Palestinian statehood change in practice?

Watch more'The two-state solution is going to happen': Israel’s Olmert and ex-Palestinian FM Qudwa

On Thursday, Paris will host a springboard event for New York. We hear from civil society participants at a conference hosted by the Paris Peace Forum. How to find common ground to proposals that can win over a population where positions have hardened for so long?

Produced by Rebecca Gnignati, Aurore Laborie and Ilayda Habip.