The BRICS TimesIndia voted in favor of the “New York Declaration” at the UN, supporting a two-state solution for Palestine. The resolution, introduced by France, gained support from 142 nations and recognized Gaza as part of Palestine. The United States and Israel strongly opposed it, calling the move a pro-Hamas step.
India’s Vote in the UN General Assembly
India supported the resolution in the UN General Assembly on Friday, which called for a peaceful resolution to the Palestine conflict and backed the two-state solution. The proposal, widely known as the “New York Declaration,” was introduced by France. Along with India, 142 nations voted in favor, while 10 countries opposed it and 12 abstained. Nations like the United States, Israel, Hungary, Argentina, Paraguay, Palau, Tonga, Nauru, Micronesia, and Papua New Guinea rejected the resolution.
India’s vote showed a significant shift from its earlier position on Gaza. In recent years, New Delhi avoided supporting proposals demanding a ceasefire in the region. Between 2021 and 2024, India stayed away from at least four such resolutions. This declaration, spread across seven pages, was drafted after an international conference held in July at the UN headquarters, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, with the aim of restarting discussions on resolving the decades-old conflict.
Declaration Condemns Hamas and Israeli Strikes
The declaration condemned the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and led to more than 250 hostages. At the same time, it criticized Israel’s retaliatory strikes in Gaza that resulted in heavy Palestinian casualties and growing starvation. The declaration urged Israeli leaders to openly support the two-state solution that includes an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.
It further appealed to Israel to end violence against Palestinians immediately, halt expansion in occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem, and avoid forced displacement. The text underlined that Gaza forms an integral part of a future Palestinian state and must remain linked with the West Bank. It clearly stated there should be no occupation, blockade, land grabs, or forced migration in Gaza.
US and Israel Reject the Resolution
Israel dismissed the proposal outright. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein wrote on X, “Once again it has been proven that the UN is nothing more than a political stage disconnected from reality. Nowhere in the dozens of points of this proposal is Hamas defined as a terrorist organization.”
The United States also expressed strong opposition. In a statement, the US mission to the UN criticized the resolution. American diplomat Morgan Ortagus called it “a political show” and clarified, “Let there be no misunderstanding about this resolution—it is a gift to Hamas.
