Israel on Friday rejected a UN General Assembly resolution that was passed by an overwhelming majority and outlined steps toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
“Once again, it has been shown how much the General Assembly is a political circus disconnected from reality. In the dozens of clauses in this resolution, there is no mention that Hamas is a terrorist organization,” said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein in a post on X.
Earlier on Friday, the UN General Assembly approved a seven-page declaration detailing “tangible, time-bound, and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution ahead of a global leaders’ meeting.
The declaration followed an international conference at the UN in July, organized by Saudi Arabia and France, addressing the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The U.S. and Israel boycotted the event.
Mixed Reactions
The Palestinian Vice President called the resolution a “significant step toward ending the occupation”, while Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour urged Israel to heed the voice of reason and the message “resonating overwhelmingly in this Assembly.”
The text, prepared by France and Saudi Arabia, was approved with 142 votes in favor, 10 against (including Israel and the U.S.), and 12 abstentions. It included clear statements such as:
- “We condemn the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas against civilians.”
- “Hamas must release all remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip.”
The resolution also called on Hamas to cease its authority in Gaza and hand over weapons to the Palestinian Authority with international support, aiming to establish a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.
International Responses
French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the resolution on X: “Together, we are building an irreversible path to peace.”
However, Israel and the U.S. remained unconvinced. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon commented:
“This unilateral statement will not be remembered as a step toward peace, but as another empty gesture undermining the credibility of the Assembly.”
