Palestine: Israel Rejects France–Saudi-Led New York Declaration for Two-State Solution

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly endorsed the France–Saudi Arabia–led New York Declaration on the implementation of the Two-State Solution, with 142 countries voting in favor. Israel's Foreign Ministry swiftly rejected the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the New York Declaration, calling it proof that the body is “a political circus detached from reality.” 

New York Declaration for Two-State Solution; via UNLuxembourg

In its official response, Jerusalem criticised the resolution for omitting any reference to Hamas as a terrorist organisation, despite directly addressing the group’s role in the conflict.

The Israeli government argued that Hamas remains “solely responsible for the continuation of the war” through its refusal to release hostages or disarm. Officials said the resolution “does not advance a solution of peace — on the contrary, it encourages Hamas to continue the war,” while thanking countries that voted against or abstained from what it labelled a “disgraceful decision.”

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the move on X, declaring: “Together, we are charting an irreversible path towards peace in the Middle East. Two peoples, two States: Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.” 

He added that France and Saudi Arabia would push the plan forward at the upcoming UN Conference on the Two-State Solution in New York on September 22, where he has pledged to formally recognize a Palestinian state.

Watch the moment the General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to endorse the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

The world chooses peace.
Palestine chooses peace. pic.twitter.com/U91yVEuCJc

— State of Palestine (@Palestine_UN) September 12, 2025

The declaration is the first major UN text since October 7, 2023, to explicitly condemn Hamas attacks on civilians and to demand that the group release all hostages. It calls for Hamas to end its rule in Gaza and surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, under international supervision. 

The document was already endorsed by the Arab League and co-signed in July by 17 UN member states, including several Arab countries.

Today, under the leadership of France and Saudi Arabia, 142 countries have adopted the New York Declaration on the implementation of the Two-State Solution.

Together, we are charting an irreversible path towards peace in the Middle East.… pic.twitter.com/74c5CrMKW1

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 12, 2025

The resolution also urges collective international action to end the Gaza war and proposes the deployment of a temporary UN-mandated international stabilization mission to support civilians and facilitate a security handover to the Palestinian Authority.

Analysts noted the shift in tone. Richard Gowan, UN Director at the International Crisis Group, told AFP that the declaration gives pro-Palestinian states “a shield against Israeli criticism,” as it directly condemns Hamas.

Today, #KingdomNL voted in favour of the UNGA resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on the implementation of the Two-State Solution.

With this vote 142 UN member states endorsed the New York Declaration. 🇺🇳 pic.twitter.com/bAYQOqL708

— KingdomNL at UN (@KingdomNL_UN) September 12, 2025

The vote comes amid rising international momentum to recognize Palestinian statehood. Leaders in Europe and the Arab world are expected to follow Macron’s lead at the September 22 summit.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the declaration, stating: “We are going to fulfill our promise that there will be no Palestinian state.”

Israel utterly rejects the decision of the UN General Assembly this evening.

Once again, it has been proven how much the General Assembly is a political circus detached from reality: in the dozens of clauses of the declaration endorsed by this resolution, there is not a single…

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) September 12, 2025

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may not be able to attend the New York summit, after U.S. officials signaled they would deny him a visa.

UNGA votes 142-10 in support of a New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State solution. I have attached a text of the declaration published in July and the voting chart. https://t.co/jGPXji95j4 pic.twitter.com/ztcLOdUkaj

— Tovah Lazaroff (@tovahlazaroff) September 12, 2025

According to Luxembourg’s mission to the UN, the resolution represents a “historic moment of consensus” on advancing the two-state framework, which is recognized by nearly three-quarters of the 193 UN member states but remains under grave threat from ongoing war and settlement expansion.