The United Nations General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly backed a declaration urging “tangible, time-bound, and irreversible steps” toward achieving a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, ahead of an upcoming meeting of world leaders, according to Reuters.
The declaration, which consists of seven pages, stems from an international conference held at the UN in July — co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France and boycotted by Israel and the US — to address the decades-long conflict.
Sweeping Support for Declaration
The declaration won sweeping support at the UN General Assembly, obtaining 142 votes in favor, with only 10 opposed and 12 abstentions.
All Gulf Arab states supported the resolution. However, Israel, the United States, Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Tonga voted against it.
US, Israel Responses
The US labeled the vote as “yet another misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt” noting that it would undermine serious diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
“Make no mistake, this resolution is a gift to Hamas. Far from promoting peace, the conference has already prolonged the war, emboldened Hamas and harmed the prospects of peace in both short and long term,” US diplomat Morgan Ortagus told the General Assembly.
At the same time, Israel rejected the declaration as one-sided and called the vote ‘theater’.
Ending Gaza War
The resolution affirmed the necessity ending Gaza War and the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission mandated by the UN Security Council.
Endorsed by the 193-member General Assembly, the declaration denounces Hamas attacks against Israelis on October 7, 2023. Meanwhile, it condemned Israel’s military campaign that has killed civilians in Gaza, devastated the infrastructure of the Palestinian enclave, and caused one of the worst humanitarian conditions worldwide.
Upcoming Meeting
Today’s move represents a necessary step that set the stage for a pivotal meeting of world leaders on September 22, on the sidelines of the high-level UN General Assembly. This upcoming meeting is set to witness the formal recognition of Palestinian state by France, Britain, Australia, Belgium, and Canada.
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