The United States on Friday strongly opposed a United Nations General Assembly resolution backing Palestinian statehood, dismissing it as a move that would embolden Hamas and hinder peace efforts. The resolution, known as the ‘New York Declaration’, was adopted with 142 votes in favour, 10 against and 12 abstentions. The US, Israel, Argentina and Hungary were among those who opposed the measure, while India voted in favour. US UN Counselor Morgan Ortagus denounced the declaration as “a gift to Hamas,” telling the General Assembly that Washington “will not participate in this insult to the victims of October 7.” She argued the resolution would only prolong the conflict, undercut hostage negotiations and obstruct ongoing diplomatic efforts for lasting peace, FOX News reported.“Make no mistake — this resolution is a gift to Hamas,” she told members of the General Assembly.“The United States will not participate in this insult to the victims of Oct. 7, but we will continue to lead real-world efforts to end the fighting and to deliver a permanent peace. Today’s resolution is yet another counterproductive gesture that only rewards Hamas, drags out the war and undercuts the very diplomatic efforts to free the hostages and end the suffering in Gaza.” The declaration, first proposed at a UN conference in July, outlines what its sponsors — led by France and Saudi Arabia — called an “irreversible” path toward Palestinian statehood. It condemns Hamas for the October 7 attacks, demands the release of hostages, and calls on the group to surrender its weapons and cede control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. In Paris, the French Foreign Ministry welcomed the outcome, describing it as a “historic vote” that reflected the international community’s resolve to pursue “an ambitious roadmap for peace and security in the region.”According to the declaration, leaders “agreed to take collective action to end the war in Gaza, to achieve a just, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the effective implementation of the two-state solution, and to build a better future for Palestinians, Israelis and all peoples of the region.” India also backed the measure, aligning itself with countries supporting a two-state solution and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
