The United Nations General Assembly will soon vote on a landmark resolution called the New York Declaration. The proposal, jointly introduced by France and Saudi Arabia, seeks to revive the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine but clearly excludes Hamas from future Palestinian governance.The declaration directly condemns Hamas for the October 7, 2023 attacks against Israeli civilians and demands the release of all remaining hostages. This marks a notable shift at the UN, where critics long argued that resolutions failed to explicitly address Hamas's actions.
Key provisions call for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the transfer of Gaza's authority to the Palestinian Authority. The resolution envisions international involvement in ensuring security and supporting the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.
This initiative has already gained momentum, with the Arab League and 17 UN member states endorsing it in July. French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to formally recognize a Palestinian state at an upcoming UN summit co-hosted by Riyadh and Paris on September 22.
Analysts note that the declaration provides countries backing Palestine with stronger ground to counter Israeli criticism. Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group explained it gives international supporters a shield against accusations of ignoring Hamas's violence.
While over 140 UN member states already recognize Palestine, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists there will never be a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas faces uncertainty over attending the summit due to reported visa restrictions in the United States.
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