The UN General Assembly is set to vote on a resolution known
as the "New York Declaration," which seeks to revive the two-state
solution between Israel and Palestine explicitly excluding Hamas from any
governing role in Gaza. The resolution condemns Hamas for the October 7, 2023,
attacks and calls for the militant group to relinquish control of Gaza, handing
over weapons to the Palestinian Authority with international support.
UN General Assembly's Upcoming Vote
As reported by AFP and covered by Dawn and Arab
News, the UN General Assembly is scheduled to vote on the “New York
Declaration” on September 12, 2025. This resolution aims to reinvigorate the
two-state solution between Israel and Palestine but explicitly excludes Hamas
from the Palestinian government structure. The declaration has garnered
endorsement from the Arab League and co-signatures from 17 UN member states,
including several Arab countries, as stated by Caliber.
Key Points of the New York Declaration
The declaration, formally titled
"The New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,"
includes a direct condemnation
of Hamas. It states clearly that:
“Hamas must free all hostages.”
The General Assembly condemns
“the attacks committed by Hamas against civilians on the 7th of October,”
referencing the 2023 attacks that
ignited the ongoing conflict.
The resolution calls for
“collective action to end the war in Gaza”
and achieve
“a just, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the effective implementation of the Two-State solution”.
Goals Regarding Hamas and Gaza Governance
The declaration goes beyond condemnation and demands that
Hamas:
- End
its rule in Gaza.
- Hand
over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.
- Allow
for international engagement and support aligned with the establishment of
a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.
This move reflects a strategic intent to remove Hamas from power and facilitate the establishment of a government that aligns with the broader international consensus on peace and statehood, as noted by Richard Gowan, UN Director at the International Crisis Group, who told AFP,
“The fact that the General Assembly is finally backing a text that condemns Hamas directly is significant”
though some Israeli voices consider it
“far too little, far too late.”
International and Regional Reactions
French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to formally
recognise the Palestinian state at an upcoming UN summit co-chaired by Riyadh
and Paris on September 22, intensifying international efforts to resolve the
conflict through diplomatic means (AFP, DW). Macron's
commitment is part of a broader diplomatic push, with several other world
leaders expected to announce recognition of Palestinian statehood during the
summit.
Conversely, Israel has strongly criticised UN bodies for
what it perceives as one-sided condemnation and has labelled the recognition of
a Palestinian state as a "prize for terror" (The Times of Israel).
The Israeli government also opposes steps that legitimise a Palestinian authority
excluding Hamas, reiterating concerns over security and regional stability.
Broader Context and Implications
Supporting three-quarters of UN member states recognise the
Palestinian state declared in 1988 by the Palestinian leadership in exile.
However, concerns are rising about the feasibility of the two-state solution
due to:
- The
ongoing war in Gaza.
- Expanded
Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank.
- Israeli
officials' stated plans to annex parts of the West Bank (Caliber.Az, Orient
XXI).
The declaration advocates for a temporary international
stabilization mission under a UN Security Council mandate to support civilians
in Gaza and facilitate the transfer of security responsibilities to the
Palestinian Authority.
Additional Regional Tensions
A notable incident reported by DW highlights increasing tensions between Israel and the United Arab Emirates following an Israeli operation targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar. The UAE, which became the first Arab country in decades to normalise relations with Israel, summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest the operation. Israel’s ongoing military actions and political statements, including Prime Minister Netanyahu’s warnings to Hamas, have elicited strong condemnation from Abu Dhabi, which labelled Israel’s West Bank annexation intent a “red line.”
The UN General Assembly's vote on the New York Declaration
marks a significant moment in international efforts to resolve the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By explicitly condemning Hamas and excluding it
from the governance structure of a future Palestinian state, the resolution
aligns with the ambitions of several key international actors to drive forward
a peaceful, two-state solution.
However, the divide between Israel’s caution and the international community’s push for Palestinian state recognition underscores the complexity and challenges ahead. The declaration and associated diplomatic efforts aim to provide a framework that promotes peace and stability in a conflict that has seen nearly two years of devastating war and political strife.