THE CONTEXT: On 12 September 2025, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution formally endorsing the New York Declaration. The vote was 142 in favour, 10 against, 12 abstentions.
The major chronological UN Resolutions:
1. The UN General Assembly has passed many resolutions criticizing Israeli policies — for example concerning settlements, treatment of Palestinians, status of Jerusalem, etc.
2. The UN Human Rights Council has also adopted numerous resolutions condemning Israel’s human rights practices in the occupied Palestinian territories.
| Year | Organ | Resolution / Decision | Main Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | UNGA | Resolution 181 (Partition Plan) | Proposed partition of Mandatory Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international administration. |
| 1948 | UNGA | Resolution 194 | Affirmed right of return for Palestinian refugees or compensation. |
| 1967 | UNSC | Resolution 242 | Called for Israel’s withdrawal from territories occupied in 1967 and recognition of every state’s right to live in peace. |
| 1971 | UNSC | Resolution 298 | Declared Israeli measures to change status of Jerusalem invalid. |
| 1973 | UNSC | Resolution 338 | Called for ceasefire in Yom Kippur War and implementation of Resolution 242. |
| 1980 | UNSC | Resolution 478 | Condemned Israel’s “Jerusalem Law”; called on states to withdraw diplomatic missions from Jerusalem. |
| 2004 | ICJ | Advisory Opinion on Separation Wall | Declared Israel’s wall in occupied Palestinian territory illegal under international law. |
| 2009 | UNHRC | Endorsement of Goldstone Report | Condemned Israeli and Hamas actions in Gaza war; alleged possible war crimes. |
| 2012 | UNGA | Resolution 67/19 | Upgraded Palestine to non-member observer state at UN. |
| 2016 | UNSC | Resolution 2334 | Declared Israeli settlements in occupied territories have no legal validity; demanded halt to settlement activity. |
| 2024 | UNSC | Resolution 2728 | Called for Gaza ceasefire during Ramadan; demanded release of hostages. |
| 2024 | ICJ | South Africa v. Israel (Provisional Measures) | Ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid. |
| 2024 | ICC | Arrest Warrant Requests | Prosecutor sought arrest warrants for Israeli PM and Hamas leaders over Gaza war crimes. |
| 2025 | UNGA | “New York Declaration” | Endorsed two-state solution; condemned Hamas attacks and Israeli settlement/forced displacement. |
What is the New York Declaration?
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- On12 September 2025, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution formally endorsing the New York Declaration. The vote was 142 in favour, 10 against, 12 abstentions.
- Full name:New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
- It was adopted at a UN High-Level International Conference in New York (28-30 July 2025), co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, with many working groups contributing.
Resolution key points
1. Two-State Solution
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- Calls for “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution.
- Emphasizes recognition of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state.
2. Condemnation of Violence / Attacks
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- The declaration strongly condemns the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
- Also denounces Israel’s military response insofar as it has caused a major humanitarian crisis.
3. Governance in Palestinian Territories
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- It calls for the governance of both Gaza and West Bank to be under the Palestinian Authority. More specifically, it says that Hamas must end its governance in Gaza, surrender its weapons, possibly disarm, enabling unified PA control.
4. Humanitarian Access / Civilian Protection / Stabilization
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- The Declaration supports deploying a temporary international stabilization mission in Gaza.
- Demands for safe, unimpeded humanitarian access, release of hostages, etc.
Limitations
Since it’s a General Assembly resolution, it doesn’t carry legally binding force. It expresses political will, international norms, and expectations, but cannot enforce. Israel and the United States opposed or criticised the resolution, saying it is one-sided or undermines peace efforts.
Why it matters
The vote shows widespread global support (142 out of 193) for a framework that calls for fairly concrete steps towards a two-state solution. That gives strong political legitimacy to the Palestinian cause and international expectations.
It shifts the narrative somewhat: not only condemning Hamas’s actions, but also demanding a change in Israeli policies — more balanced criticism than some previous resolutions.
It may influence international legal bodies or future diplomatic recognitions and momentum for recognizing Palestinian statehood might grow.
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