UN General Assembly Endorses Saudi-French ‘New York Declaration’ for Israeli-Palestinian Peace Without Hamas

In a landmark move, the United Nations General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly backed the Saudi-French sponsored “New York Declaration,” a resolution seeking to revive the long-stalled two-state solution between Israel and Palestine while explicitly excluding Hamas from the process.

The resolution, formally titled The New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, secured 142 votes in favor, 10 against including Israel and the United States and 12 abstentions. It strongly condemns Hamas for the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, demands the group’s disarmament and the release of all hostages, and outlines an international roadmap to end the ongoing war in Gaza.

Jointly introduced by Saudi Arabia and France, and backed by the Arab League along with 17 UN member states, the declaration calls for Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority under international supervision. The broader plan envisions a ceasefire, Palestinian statehood, Hamas disarmament, and normalization of relations between Israel and Arab nations.

French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont, presenting the resolution, described it as “a single roadmap to deliver the two-state solution,” stressing the urgent need for a ceasefire and renewed commitment from both Arab countries and the Palestinian Authority.

The US delegation, led by Morgan Ortagus, rejected the resolution, branding it a “misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt” that undermines Israel’s security. Washington particularly objected to language referencing the Palestinian “right of return,” which it said threatens Israel’s identity as a Jewish state.

Despite opposition, momentum is building around the Saudi-French initiative ahead of a high-level UN summit on September 22, to be co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron has already pledged to formally recognize a Palestinian state, underscoring Europe’s growing role in Middle East peace diplomacy.