UN General Assembly votes overwhelmingly to back Palastinian statehood plan and Hamas-free governance, isolating Israel and the U.S. Image: UN News.
(The Post News)– The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of a historic resolution for the establishment of a Palestinian state under the leadership of the Palestinian Authority and free of Hamas, opening the doors for renewed efforts towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
France and Saudi Arabia co-sponsored the New York Declaration, which was voted on Friday with 142 affirmative votes, 10 negative votes, and 12 abstentions. The resolution represents one of the sharpest international condemnation of Israel and the US in a generation, as it reminds them of their growing diplomatic isolation on the Gaza war and refusal to accept Palestinian statehood.
Arab Condemnation of Hamas
In a shocking political shift, the resolution had some of the strongest condemnation of Hamas ever passed at the United Nations. It blamed the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians that killed 1,200 and took more than 200 hostage. The text reads: “We condemn the attacks perpetrated on 7 October by Hamas against civilians … Hamas must release all hostages held in Gaza.”
While the resolution proposes a scenario in which Hamas would relinquish control over Gaza, demilitarize, and hand over control to the Palestinian Authority with international backing. It also calls for the deployment of an interim UN-led stabilization mission to guard Palestinian civilians, monitor a ceasefire, and provide security guarantees to Israel and Palestine.
Support for the resolution was predicated on increasing international concern at Israel’s methods in Gaza, where more than 64,000 Palestinians have been confirmed dead, according to local health authorities. Nations such as Germany, a long-standing ally of Israel, voted for the statement, which reflected a shift in the policy of Europe towards the conflict.
This vote is a reflection of the will of global leaders to open the door to peace,” Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said. Israel and the US, along with Hungary, Argentina, and a few others, opposed the vote. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resolutely spurned the two-state solution, stating at a ceremony for enlarging a West Bank settlement hours before the vote, “There will be no Palestinian state. This place belongs to us.”
Israel’s United Nations ambassador, Danny Danon, described it as political “theater,” while the US delegation labelled it “a misguided publicity stunt that detracts from serious diplomacy.”
The General Assembly vote paves the way for a UN high-level conference on the two-state solution to take place in New York on September 22, ahead of the annual General Assembly debate. France, the UK, Canada, Australia, and several other nations are to officially recognize the state of Palestine at the summit.
Currently, there are more than 145 United Nations member states recognizing Palestinian statehood in the 1988 declaration. An additional 10-12 nations, some of which are in Western Europe, will most likely do so this month.
The motion also criticized Israeli settlement expansion and threats of unilateral annexation, warning these actions pose “an existential threat” to peace. Five European nations have already banned imports from unauthorized Israeli settlements, adding further pressure on Israel’s government.
Regional Tensions Escalate
The vote comes amid rising regional tensions following Israeli air raids in Qatar that killed several Hamas officials who were engaged in mediation talks. The UN Security Council denounced the attack but refrained from blaming Israel. Qatar has accused Israel of deliberately interfering with peace negotiations and has called in the Israeli ambassador.
Qatar is to host an Arab-Islamic summit this Sunday, during which Gulf nations are to discuss tougher action against Israel. The UAE , a signatory to the 2020 Abraham Accords, is under pressure to suspend its agreement of cooperation with Israel.
Top UAE diplomat Dr. Anwar Gargash warned at the General Assembly , “These irresponsible, aggressive actions will bring neither the region nor Israel our shared desire for peace, prosperity, security, and stability. They just fuel more violence, extremism, and chaos at precisely the time the region needs restraint and de-escalation.”
Though not a legally binding instrument, the New York Declaration represents the most united international Palestinian statehood call in years. It envisions a phased plan: Hamas relinquishing authority, the Palestinian Authority assuming full control, and international forces securing the area in a transition period.
But with Israel hardening its opposition and Hamas not disarming except with guarantees of sovereignty, real progress is hardly assured. But for now, the UN vote is a diplomatic turning point and a sign that pressure may be piling up for a two-state solution after years of deadlock.
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