The UN general assembly has voted to back a Hamas-free government for Palestine as part of a compromise that sees Arab states go further in condemning its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel in return for clear support for a Palestinian state.
The 142-10 vote on Friday was to endorse the so-called New York declaration, a statement calling for a two-state solution, crafted by France and Saudi Arabia in July.
Israel, the US, Hungary and Argentina were among the countries voting against. There were 12 abstentions.
In sharp criticism of Hamas, the UN text states: “We condemn the attacks perpetrated on 7 October by Hamas against civilians,” and “Hamas must release all hostages” held in Gaza.
Israel rejected the UN declaration that outlines steps towards a two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians.
In a post on X, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said the declaration demonstrated the General Assembly was a “political circus detached from reality.”
“In the dozens of clauses of the declaration endorsed by this resolution, there is not a single mention that Hamas is a terrorist organization,” Marmorstein wrote.
Hamas is designated as a terror organization by Israel, the US, the EU, Germany and others.
“The resolution does not advance a solution of peace, on the contrary, it encourages Hamas to continue the war,” he continued.
The document called for Hamas to end its rule in the Palestinian enclave and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority with the support of a temporary international stabilization mission.
It also called for the release of Israeli hostages. In turn, Israel is called on to cease settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and end its military strikes on the Gaza Strip.
On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there “will never be a Palestinian state,” as he signed off on the controversial expansion of a Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank.
