The UN General Assembly made a historic move Friday, voting 142-10 to endorse a Hamas-free two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. The resolution demands Hamas disarm, release hostages, and relinquish control of Gaza while paving the way for international stabilization efforts.
Presented by France and Saudi Arabia, the New York Declaration explicitly condemns Hamas' October 7 attacks and calls for collective action to end the Gaza conflict. Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh hailed the decision as "an important step toward ending occupation," while Israel's Foreign Ministry dismissed it as "a political circus."
The vote sets the stage for a September 22 UN summit where France and other nations plan to formally recognize Palestinian statehood. However, challenges persist with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowing "no Palestinian state" and U.S. visa restrictions potentially blocking Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from attending key negotiations.
With 75% of UN members already recognizing Palestine, the resolution marks growing global momentum despite ongoing hurdles like West Bank settlements and Gaza's reconstruction needs. A proposed UN stabilization mission aims to support civilian populations during transition.
