The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly adopted a resolution endorsing the New York Declaration aimed at reviving the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The resolution, formally titled “Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” passed with 142 votes in favour, 10 against, and 12 abstentions.
The New York Declaration, crafted at a July 2025 UN-conference in New York co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, lays out a roadmap with “tangible, time-bound, and irreversible steps” toward the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel. Key provisions demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and the disarmament of Hamas, including its exclusion from governing Gaza, transferring authority there to the Palestinian Authority. The text also calls for normalization of relations between Israel and Arab states in this framework.
Israel and the United States opposed the measure. Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon called the declaration “not a serious attempt at peacemaking,” while the U.S. described the resolution as “undermining serious diplomatic efforts.” Supporters argue the vote reflects mounting international pressure to shift from rhetoric to action, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a deteriorating political situation with the prospect of peace becoming more distant.
Palestinian leaders welcomed the resolution. UN envoy Riyad Mansour expressed gratitude to the member states that supported the declaration, saying it reflects global will for peace and legitimizes efforts to realize Palestinian rights. Deputy President Hussein al-Sheikh called the vote “an important step toward ending occupation” and reinstating the two-state solution with East Jerusalem as its capital under a sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 borders.
Despite the broad endorsement, the resolution is non-binding. Observers note that its impact will depend heavily on how member states translate the declaration into action, and whether stalled diplomatic channels can be revived. Detractors argue that requiring Hamas to disarm and relinquish governance of Gaza is impractical in the current conflict scenario, while insistence by some parties that there “will be no Palestinian state” underscores deep resistance that remains.
The vote comes in the run-up to a conference in New York, co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris on September 22, where additional international recognition of Palestine is expected, and where further pledges for implementation of the roadmap may be made. The resolution’s adoption, supporters say, raises expectations for renewed momentum—but whether it alters facts on the ground remains a major question.
