09/12/2025September 12, 2025
UN to vote on New York Declaration urging two-state solution
The is set to vote later on the “New York Declaration,” a resolution aimed at reviving a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine without Hamas involvement.
The text, introduced by France and Saudi Arabia, demands that “Hamas must free all hostages” and condemns “the attacks committed by Hamas against civilians on the 7th of October.” It also calls for “collective action to end the war in Gaza” and to implement a lasting two-state settlement.
Already endorsed by the Arab League and co-signed by 17 UN members in July, the declaration goes further by seeking Hamas’s removal from power in Gaza.
“In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State,” it reads.
The vote comes ahead of a September 22 UN summit in New York co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris, where French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to formally recognize a Palestinian state.
“The fact that the General Assembly is finally backing a text that condemns Hamas directly is significant,” Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group told the AFP news agency.
However, he noted that the Israelis may view it as “too little, too late.” He added that the resolution would offer pro-Palestinian states “a shield against Israeli criticism.”
“Now at least states supporting the Palestinians can rebuff Israeli accusations that they implicitly condone Hamas,” he said,
Several other leaders plan to announce their at the summit, increasing pressure on Israel to end the Gaza war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks.
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