The United Nations General Assembly adopted the so-called "New York Declaration" on Friday. This declaration calls for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. 142 member states voted in favor of the declaration, while ten voted against it and twelve abstained.
The declaration calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages. It also demands the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from any future government. This, it argues, would pave the way for the establishment of a "viable and sovereign" Palestinian state. Furthermore, the document reaffirms the right of return for all Palestinians. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) estimates that there are approximately 5.9 million Palestinian refugees.
The declaration was launched at a conference chaired by France and Saudi Arabia at the end of July. In addition to its demands, it also condemns Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7.
Criticism from Israel
Besides Israel, Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga, and the United States voted against the resolution. Germany, Austria, and Switzerland all voted in favor.
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Dani Danon, called the declaration "one-sided." He described it as an "empty gesture" that would not bring peace. He claimed that Hamas would be the sole beneficiary.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry even called the general assembly on X "a political circus with no connection to reality." It complained, among other things, that Hamas was not designated a terrorist organization in the declaration. High-ranking US diplomat Morgan Ortagus also publicly doubted that the initiative was a step toward peace. She argued that the declaration would embolden Hamas and prolong the war. (Israelnetz)
