New York: Applause rang out in the UN General Assembly Hall on Friday as countries endorsed a declaration on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution with Israel. The New York Declaration is the outcome of an international conference held in July at UN Headquarters, organized by France and Saudi Arabia, which resumes later this month.
According to Nam News Network, the General Assembly, comprising all 193 UN Member States, saw 142 countries vote in favor of a resolution backing the document. The roadmap outlined in the declaration calls for the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from governance in Gaza, normalization between Israel and Arab countries, and collective security guarantees.
Speaking ahead of the vote, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon expressed his concerns, stating that this one-sided Declaration will not be remembered as a step toward peace, but only as another hollow gesture that weakens the Assembly's credibility. He further remarked that Hamas is the biggest winner of any endorsement made and will declare it the fruit of 7 October.
The high-level international conference in July was held against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and deteriorating prospects for the two-State solution.
