UN General Assembly votes to back two-state solution for Israel and Palestine

The United Nations General Assembly overwhemingly backed a nonbinding solution connected Friday supporting a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, hours aft Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected nan thought of a Palestinian state.

Out of nan 193-member world body, 142 countries voted successful favour connected nan New York Declaration, 10 against and 12 abstained.

The resolution, presented by France and Saudi Arabia, envisions nan Palestinian Authority (PA) governing and successful power of each Palestinian territory, pinch a transitional administrative committee instantly established aft a ceasefire successful Gaza.

“Hamas must extremity its norm successful Gaza and manus complete its weapons to nan Palestinian Authority,” nan declaration says, adding that it must besides free each hostages.

It besides suggests nan deployment of a UN-backed ngo to protect Palestinian civilians and supply information guarantees for some Palestinian and Israel civilians, support nan serene transportation of governing to nan PA and show nan ceasefire and a early bid agreement.

The seven-page archive condemns “the attacks committed by Hamas against civilians” successful confederate Israel connected Oct 7 successful 2023, erstwhile Hamas-led militants killed astir 1,200 people, galore of them civilians, and took 250 hostages. Of those, 50 are still being held, including astir 20 who are believed to beryllium alive.

It besides condemns Israel's attacks connected civilians and civilian infrastructure successful Gaza and its "siege and starvation, which has produced a devastating humanitarian catastrophe and protection crisis." Following Oct 7, a consequent Israeli violative has to day killed much than 64,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to nan Gaza Health Ministry whose fig does not separate betwixt fighters and civilians. The figures are many times cited by world institutions, specified arsenic nan UN.

Large swathes of Gaza person been levelled and astir of nan territory's much than 2 cardinal group person been displaced. The UN has declared famine is now occurring successful nan Gaza governorate, and expects it will grow to Deir al Balah and Khan Younis by nan extremity of this month.

A Palestinian authorities arsenic an 'essential and indispensable component' for two-state solution

Finally, nan declaration calls connected countries to recognise nan authorities of Palestine, successful what it calls an "essential and indispensable component" successful achieving a two-state solution.

Without naming, but successful clear reference to Israel, nan archive sounds “illegal unilateral actions are posing an existential threat to nan realisation of nan independent authorities of Palestine.”

Earlier this month, Belgium announced it would subordinate nan United Kingdom and France successful recognising a Palestinian authorities and nan United Nations General Assembly yearly gathering later this month. The Palestinians opportunity they dream astatine slightest 10 much countries will recognise nan authorities of Palestine, adding to nan much than 145 countries that already do.

The Palestinian UN ambassador, Riyah Mansour, said nan mostly support for nan solution indicates "the yearning of almost everyone, nan world community, to unfastened nan doorway for nan action of peace.”

Without naming Israel, he said, “We induce a statement that is still pushing nan action of warfare and destruction, and attempts to destruct nan Palestinian group and bargain their land, to perceive to nan sound of reason, to nan sound of nan logic of dealing pinch this rumor peacefully, and for nan overwhelming connection that has resonated successful this General Assembly today.”

Israel rejected nan solution connected Friday, claiming it only benefits Hamas.

“This one-sided declaration will not beryllium remembered arsenic a measurement toward peace, only arsenic different hollow motion that weakens this assembly’s credibility,” Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said.

During a sojourn to an Israeli colony successful nan occupied-West Bank, PM Netanyahu confirmed he did not want a Palestinian state, "this spot belongs to us," he stated.

Israel's closest ally, nan United States, mirrored its opposition, pinch US Mission counsellor Morgan Ortagus calling it a "misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt that undermines superior negotiated efforts to extremity nan conflict."