The UN General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution endorsing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with 142 countries voting in favor, 10 against and 12 abstaining.
The resolution, known as the “New York Declaration,” was jointly proposed by France and Saudi Arabia and calls for a “collective and time-bound effort” to end the war in Gaza and achieve a “just, peaceful and lasting solution” for Israelis and Palestinians.
The measure urges Hamas to release all hostages, dismantle its governing structures in Gaza and transfer its weapons to the Palestinian Authority as part of a process toward establishing an independent Palestinian state.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry welcomed the initiative, praising France and Saudi Arabia for advancing what it called a “practical plan,” and reiterated demands to end Israeli occupation and secure the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights.
Israel and the United States voted against the measure, with both governments denouncing the resolution as undermining Israel’s security and failing to address what they described as Hamas’s ongoing threat.
The vote comes as Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza and expands settlements in the occupied West Bank, moves that critics say have further complicated prospects for a future Palestinian state.
Diplomats and analysts said the lopsided support for the resolution reflects mounting global frustration over the lack of progress in peace talks and a growing sense of urgency to revive negotiations.
