On September 11, 2025, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed a historic resolution known as the “New York Declaration,” aimed at reviving the long-stalled two-state solution between Israel and Palestine while explicitly excluding Hamas from any governance role in Palestinian territories. The vote tally was 142 in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions among UN Member States.
This non-binding resolution called for “tangible, time-bound, and irreversible steps” towards establishing a sovereign, viable, and democratic Palestinian state coexisting peacefully alongside Israel based on pre-1967 borders. It further stipulated the disarmament and removal of Hamas’s control over Gaza, with weapons transferred to the Palestinian Authority under international supervision.
The declaration condemned the October 7, 2023, Hamas militant attacks on Israel and called for Hamas to release all hostages seized during those attacks. It also emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access in Gaza, referencing the devastating humanitarian catastrophe unfolding due to ongoing conflict.
Countries voting against included Israel, the United States, Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Tonga. Twelve countries abstained.
Statements From Key Stakeholders
UN Representative and Sponsor Countries:
France and Saudi Arabia co-sponsored the resolution. The French Ambassador, speaking on behalf of both nations, described the resolution as laying out a “single roadmap to deliver the two-State solution” that includes normalization between Israel and Arab states, collective security guarantees, and a stable Palestinian government free of militant factions.
Palestinian Delegation:
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian Permanent Observer to the UN, hailed the vote as embodying the “yearning of almost everyone in the international community to open the door for the option of peace.” He stated the resolution offers a platform for peaceful settlement and Palestinian statehood.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the Saudi-French initiative, calling for “activation of all mechanisms to end the Israeli colonial occupation” and reaffirming Palestinians’ legitimate rights.
Israel’s Response:
Israel’s ambassador to the UN harshly criticized the resolution, calling it a “carefully staged performance for headlines” and a hollow gesture that hurts the Assembly’s credibility. He argued the declaration rewards Hamas terrorist acts and undermines negotiative peace efforts.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s refusal to recognize a Palestinian state, asserting
“there will be no Palestinian state”.
The ambassador added that Hamas welcomed the resolution as pressure on Israel and warned, “When terrorists cheer your statement, reconsider your position”.
United States:
The US voted against the resolution alongside Israel and expressed concerns that the resolution empowered Hamas and prolonged the conflict rather than resolving it, criticizing it as counterproductive.
Context and Impact
The resolution follows a July 2025 high-level international conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia that convened to address stagnating peace efforts amid escalating violence in Gaza and the West Bank.
The New York Declaration commands Hamas to relinquish governance over Gaza and hand over weapons to the Palestinian Authority, an essential condition for international support and legitimacy for Palestinian statehood.
The resolution also envisions a “temporary international stabilization mission” authorized by the UN Security Council to oversee protection, institution building, and security guarantees for both Palestinians and Israelis.
