UNGA Could Mark a Turning Point in Palestine’s Quest for Statehood

A key vote shows where countries stand on "The State of Palestine"

The General Assembly vote count on a resolution endorsing the “New York Declaration”

Last Friday, the UN General Assembly set the stage for high drama during High-Level Week next week.

In a packed chamber, UN Member States voted 142–10 to back “tangible, time-bound and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, endorsing a French and Saudi-led initiative called the “New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.”

The New York Declaration is a set of principles, backed in July by about a dozen countries along with the European Union and the Arab League, that seeks to create a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel in the context of ending the war in Gaza. The Declaration acknowledges that there is no ongoing peace process between the parties but nonetheless aims to demonstrate broad international support for a two-state solution. (It is significant to note that Saudi Arabia and most of the Arab League—who do not formally recognize Israel—backed a document implying they would do so upon the implementation of a two-state solution.)

The Declaration includes denunciations of the killing of civilians by all sides in the Gaza war, but goes much further than any UN statement to date in calling for the abolition of Hamas. The Declaration explicitly condemns Hamas’ terror attack on October 7, calls for the immediate release of Israeli hostages, and demands that Hamas disarm and hand over control in Gaza. “In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State,” reads a key portion of the Declaration

Still, the New York Declaration, now formally endorsed by 142 countries, contains several provisions Israel is likely to oppose, including ending settlement activity, allowing unfettered humanitarian access to Gaza, reaffirming Palestinians’ right to self-determination, and calling for full admission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations. “The only beneficiary is Hamas,” said Israel’s UN ambassador of the resolution (despite its call for Hamas to turn over its guns and end its rule in Gaza.)

Israel, the United States, Hungary, Argentina, and a smattering of mostly small Pacific island states that vote with the US in the General Assembly as a matter of routine opposed the resolution. But this vote was about as lopsided as a vote can be at the UN. And the timing of the vote is consequential. On Monday the 22, Presidents and Prime Ministers from around the world will gather in General Assembly Hall for a highly anticipated meeting dedicated to Palestinian statehood.

With this vote, all signs point to this gathering at the start of UN Week as being the defining geopolitical moment of this year’s UNGA.

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