UN General Assembly passes resolution for independent Palestinian state

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The vote, held on Friday at the UN headquarters in New York, saw 142 countries in favour, 10 against, and 12 abstentions.

The resolution, jointly tabled by France and Saudi Arabia and known as the New York Declaration, urges Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza and surrender its weapons in order to advance the two-state solution. It also emphasises the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and the transfer of authority to the Palestinian Authority (PA). The proposal received broad support from the Arab League and the international community.

Israel strongly condemned the resolution. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein dismissed it as a “political circus detached from reality” and described it as “shameful” for Israel.

Palestinian leaders, however, welcomed the outcome. Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh said, “The international community is affirming its support for Palestinian rights.”

Palestinian Authority spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh reiterated, “There can be no peace without an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”