The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted on Friday to adopt the “New York Declaration,” a resolution aimed at revitalizing the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The resolution explicitly envisions a future Palestinian state without the involvement of Hamas.
The measure was adopted with 142 votes in favor, while 10 countries, including Israel and its key ally the United States, voted against it. There were 12 abstentions. The declaration, presented by France and Saudi Arabia, contains some of the UN’s most direct and unambiguous condemnation of Hamas to date, demanding that the group surrender its weapons.
Key Demands of the Declaration
Formally titled the “New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” the text outlines several critical points:
- Condemnation of Hamas: The declaration condemns the October 7 attacks by Hamas and demands the immediate release of all hostages.
- Hamas’s Role in Gaza: The text calls for Hamas to end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority with international support and cooperation.
- Path to Peace: It calls for “collective action to end the war in Gaza” and to achieve a “just, peaceful and lasting settlement” based on the two-state solution.
- International Mission: The declaration proposes the “deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission” under the UN Security Council’s mandate to support the civilian population and facilitate the transfer of security responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority.
Reactions and Growing Pressure on Israel
This vote is considered significant because it is the first time the UN General Assembly has directly condemned Hamas, offering a “shield” for countries that support the Palestinian cause against accusations that they implicitly condone the group. However, Richard Gowan, UN director at the International Crisis Group, noted that many Israelis will likely see it as “far too little, far too late.”
The vote precedes a major UN summit on September 22, co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris, where French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders are expected to formally recognize the Palestinian state. These gestures are widely seen as a means to increase pressure on Israel to end its military offensive in Gaza.
The ongoing conflict has been devastating, with at least 64,656 Palestinians killed, most of them civilians. The resulting humanitarian crisis has led to growing international criticism and accusations of “genocide” from human rights groups, which Tel Aviv rejects. The situation is further complicated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public vow that “there will be no Palestinian state” and reports that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may be denied a visa to attend the UN summit.
