UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Common Meeting on Friday overwhelmingly voted to endorse a declaration outlining “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” in the direction of a two-state resolution between Israel and the Palestinians forward of a gathering of world leaders.
The seven-page declaration is the results of a world convention on the U.N. in July – hosted by Saudi Arabia and France – on the decades-long battle. America and Israel boycotted the occasion.
A decision endorsing the declaration obtained 142 votes in favor and 10 in opposition to, whereas 12 international locations abstained.
The vote comes forward of a gathering of world leaders on September 22 – on the sidelines of the high-level U.N. Common Meeting – the place Britain, France, Canada, Australia and Belgium are anticipated to formally acknowledge a Palestinian state.
The declaration endorsed by the 193-member Common Meeting condemns the assaults in opposition to Israel by Palestinian militants Hamas on October 7, 2023, which triggered the battle in Gaza.
It additionally condemns the assaults by Israel in opposition to civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, siege and hunger, “which have resulted in a devastating humanitarian disaster and safety disaster.”
French Overseas Minister Jean-Noel Barrot mentioned the decision secured the worldwide isolation of Hamas.
“For the primary time immediately, the United Nations adopted a textual content condemning it for its crimes and calling for its give up and disarmament,” he mentioned in an X publish.
The decision was supported by all Gulf Arab states. Israel and the US voted in opposition to it, together with Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Tonga.
The declaration endorsed by the decision says the battle in Gaza “should finish now” and assist the deployment of a short lived worldwide stabilization mission mandated by the U.N. Safety Council.
America described the vote as “yet one more misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt” that undermined critical diplomatic efforts to finish the battle.
“Make no mistake, this decision is a present to Hamas,” U.S. diplomat Morgan Ortagus instructed the Common Meeting. “Removed from selling peace, the convention has already extended the battle, emboldened Hamas and harmed the prospects of peace in each quick and long run.”
Israel, which has lengthy criticized the U.N. for not condemning Hamas by identify for the October 7 assaults, dismissed the declaration as one-sided and described the vote as theater.
“The one beneficiary is Hamas …When terrorists are those cheering, you aren’t advancing peace; you might be advancing terror,” Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon mentioned.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel killed 1,200 folks, largely civilians, and about 251 had been taken hostage, in accordance with Israeli tallies. Greater than 64,000 folks, additionally largely civilians, have since been killed throughout the battle in Gaza, in accordance with native well being authorities.
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Modifying by Rami Ayyub and Nia Williams)
