UN overwhelmingly endorses declaration on two-state solution for Israel, Palestinians

The United Nations General Assembly has taken a significant step toward peace in the Middle East by overwhelmingly adopting a resolution in support of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The vote, held on Friday, saw 142 member states backing the resolution, with only 10 countries against and 12 abstaining.

This historic declaration outlines tangible, time-bound, and irreversible actions to establish two sovereign states living side by side in peace and security. The seven-page document, known as the “New York Declaration,” was drafted following an international conference hosted by Saudi Arabia and France at the UN in July. Both the United States and Israel boycotted the conference and opposed the resolution.

The declaration explicitly calls for Hamas to release hostages, end its governance in Gaza, and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority. It condemns attacks by Hamas on civilians, as well as Israel’s ongoing assaults, siege, and policies that have led to humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The document demands a halt to the use of starvation as a weapon, forced displacement, and further aggression in the region.

Notably, the vote comes ahead of a September 22 summit in New York, where more countries—including Britain, Norway, Spain, Ireland, and France—are expected to formally recognize the Palestinian state. The endorsement also serves as a call to all UN member states to work towards ending the Israeli occupation and realizing the rights of Palestinian people through political, legal, and economic measures.

Palestinian officials welcomed the broad UN support, describing it as a key move toward ending decades of conflict and building a sustainable, just peace. Israeli officials criticized the vote, calling it disconnected from reality, while international observers hailed it as a sign of growing global momentum for a two-state solution.

Source: Al Jazeera, Reuters, WAFA