Today the UN General Assembly approved the New York Declaration, aimed at relaunching the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, but unequivocally excluding Hamas.

The text prepared by France and Saudi Arabia was approved by 142 votes in favor, ten against, and 12 abstentions. It condemns "the attacks perpetrated on October 7 by Hamas against civilians" and firmly resolves that "Hamas must lay down its weapons and release all hostages" held in Gaza. The declaration will form the basis of the September 22 summit, at which President Emmanuel Macron promised to recognize a Palestinian state.

The United States, Israel, and Hungary voted against the resolution, along with Argentina, Paraguay, Micronesia, Tonga, Nauru, Palau, and Papua New Guinea. Italy, along with the other EU countries, voted in favor. The approved document states that "in the context of the end of the war in Gaza, Hamas must cease exercising its authority over the Gaza Strip and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with the support and cooperation of the international community, in accordance with the objective of a sovereign and independent State of Palestine."

The New York Declaration, approved today by the Assembly, also calls for a "cessation of the conflict in Gaza" and a "just, peaceful, and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the concrete implementation of the two-state solution." With a view to a future ceasefire, the declaration also envisages the possible deployment of a "temporary international stabilization mission" to Gaza under a mandate from the UN Security Council, with the aim of protecting the population, strengthening the Palestinian state's capacity, and ensuring security for both Palestine and Israel. French President Macron, speaking at X, said that "together we are laying the foundations for an irreversible path towards peace in the Middle East."

(Unioneonline)

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