WASHINGTON: The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a historic resolution aimed at reviving the long-delayed two-state solution between Israel and Palestine this time explicitly excluding Hamas from any future political role.
On Friday, September 12, 142 member states voted in favor of the resolution, with 10 against, including Israel and the United States, while 12 abstained.
The text, formally known as the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, condemns Hamas, demands the immediate release of all hostages, and calls on the militant group to surrender its weapons.
The resolution, drafted by France and Saudi Arabia, insists that Hamas end its rule in Gaza and transfer authority to the Palestinian Authority under international supervision.
It also urges collective global action to halt the ongoing war in Gaza and build a framework for a just, peaceful and lasting settlement.
Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh welcomed the move, describing it as an important step toward ending Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state.
But Israel strongly rejected the measure, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein dismissing it as further evidence that the UN had become a political circus detached from reality.
The vote sets the stage for a major September 22 summit in New York, to be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, where French President Emmanuel Macron and other world leaders are expected to push toward formal recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Analysts say the resolution strengthens pro-Palestinian states by giving them a shield against accusations of supporting Hamas, while at the same time increasing diplomatic pressure on Israel.
The declaration also raises the possibility of a UN-led stabilization mission in Gaza, which could provide humanitarian relief and oversee security in the strip temporarily.
Globally, about three-quarters of UN member states already recognize Palestine, but the plan faces steep obstacles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Thursday that there will be no Palestinian state, pointing to years of conflict, settlement expansion in the West Bank, and domestic pledges to block Palestinian sovereignty.
The decision has triggered heated debate online. Supporters hail it as a breakthrough for peace, while critics argue that Hamas’ influence cannot be eliminated overnight.
On social media, hashtags like #UNVote, #TwoStateSolution, and #GazaCeasefireNow trended worldwide, with users divided over whether the resolution could actually bring an end to decades of bloodshed.
Still, diplomats view the vote as the most serious international push for Palestinian statehood in years, and one that could reshape Middle East politics ahead of the September summit.
