UN votes for Palestinian state

THE UN General Assembly voted on Friday to back a resolution which seeks to breathe new life into the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine — without the involvement of Hamas.

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The text was adopted by 142 votes in favour, 10 against — including Israel and key ally the US - and 12 abstentions. It clearly condemns Hamas and demands that it surrender its weapons.

Although Israel has criticised UN bodies for nearly two years over their failure to condemn Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, the declaration, presented by France and Saudi Arabia, leaves no ambiguity.

Formally called the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, the text states that “Hamas must free all hostages” and that the UN General Assembly condemns “the attacks committed by Hamas against civilians on October 7.”

It also calls for “collective action to end the war in Gaza, to achieve a just, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the effective implementation of the Two-State solution”.

The declaration, which was already endorsed by the Arab League and cosigned in July by 17 UN member states, including several Arab countries, also seeks to fully exclude Hamas from leadership in Gaza.