Key Highlights
- 142 nations voted in favor of the UN resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on peaceful settlement of Palestine, with only 10 countries opposing including the United States and Israel
- The resolution calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages, and establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel
- India joined the overwhelming majority supporting the two-state solution, while the declaration demands Hamas disarmament and exclusion from Gaza governance
Opening Overview
The United Nations General Assembly delivered a decisive diplomatic message on September 12, 2025, as 142 member nations voted to endorse a comprehensive framework for implementing the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The overwhelming support for the New York Declaration represents one of the most significant multilateral endorsements of Palestinian statehood in recent years, with the two-state solution receiving backing from over 73% of all UN member states.
This landmark vote occurred just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that a Palestinian state would never exist, highlighting the deepening divide between international consensus and Israeli policy regarding the resolution. The resolution, co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, establishes a clear roadmap for peaceful settlement that includes immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and the creation of viable Palestinian sovereignty.
UN General Assembly overwhelmingly backs two-state solution and creation of an independent Palestinian state:
— Ammar Khan (@AmmarKh12669255) September 12, 2025
142 in favor, 12 abstained, 10 opposed, including the US, Hungary, and Argentina. pic.twitter.com/zGAsIRa2PT
International Coalition Backs Palestinian Sovereignty
The September 12 vote demonstrated remarkable international unity behind the two-state solution, with 142 countries supporting the resolution against only 10 opposing nations. Those voting against the two-state solution included traditional Israeli allies such as the United States, Argentina, Hungary, and several Pacific island nations including Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Tonga. An additional 12 countries abstained from the vote, reflecting the complex diplomatic considerations surrounding the resolution implementation.
The New York Declaration originated from a high-level international conference held in July 2025 at UN headquarters, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. This conference brought together world leaders to develop a comprehensive framework for the resolution, addressing critical issues including Hamas disarmament, hostage release, and Palestinian Authority reform. The July conference had been originally scheduled for June but was postponed due to regional conflicts, demonstrating the challenging security environment affecting resolution negotiations.
India’s participation among the 142 supporting nations reflects its consistent diplomatic position favoring the resolution and Palestinian self-determination. The Indian vote aligns with the country’s historical support for Palestinian rights while maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel, positioning India within the broad international consensus supporting the resolution.
Declaration Framework and Implementation Timeline
- The New York Declaration establishes a comprehensive 15-month timeline for implementing the two-state solution and achieving Palestinian statehood
- Hamas must surrender all weapons to the Palestinian Authority and cease governance in Gaza as part of the two-state solution framework
- Israeli settlement activities in occupied territories must halt immediately according to the declaration’s requirements
The declaration outlines specific, time-bound steps for advancing the two-state solution, beginning with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and release of all hostages. Under this framework, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and transfer all weapons to the Palestinian Authority, effectively removing the militant organization from governance structures essential to the two-state solution. The Palestinian Authority would assume control over all Palestinian territories, including Gaza, as part of establishing a unified government structure supporting the two-state solution.
According to UN officials, the declaration envisions deployment of a UN-backed mission to protect Palestinian civilians and provide security guarantees for both populations. This international presence would monitor ceasefire agreements and support the peaceful transition of authority necessary for two-state solution implementation. The framework also calls for normalization between Israel and Arab countries as part of broader regional integration supporting the resolution.
Israeli leadership faces explicit demands under the declaration to issue clear public commitment to the two-state solution, including recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state. The document specifically requires Israel to halt all settlement activities, land grabs, and annexation projects in occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, as prerequisites for two-state solution progress. These territorial requirements represent core Palestinian demands that have long been central to two-state solution negotiations.
Growing International Recognition Movement
Current international recognition of Palestinian statehood stands at 147 countries out of 193 UN member states, representing approximately 76% of the global community. This substantial majority provides diplomatic foundation for the two-state solution, with recognition numbers continuing to grow as more nations announce their intention to acknowledge Palestinian sovereignty. The momentum reflects increasing international pressure for two-state solution implementation amid ongoing regional conflicts.
Several key US allies have announced plans to recognize Palestinian statehood during September 2025, significantly expanding the diplomatic coalition supporting the two-state solution. France and Australia have confirmed they will extend recognition during the current UN General Assembly session, while the United Kingdom and Canada have indicated conditional recognition dependent on specific developments in two-state solution progress. Belgium has also announced recognition plans, bringing the total number of NATO members acknowledging Palestinian statehood to 15 out of 32 alliance countries.
Among G20 nations, 10 countries currently recognize Palestinian statehood, with this number potentially rising to 14 if announced recognitions proceed. The United States remains the sole UN Security Council permanent member opposing Palestinian recognition, creating diplomatic isolation on this aspect of the two-state solution. This positioning places Washington increasingly at odds with international consensus supporting Palestinian sovereignty as part of the two-state solution framework.
Opposition Responses and Regional Implications
Israeli officials strongly condemned the UN resolution, with Ambassador Danny Danon characterizing it as “theatre” and “a carefully staged performance for headlines, not for peace”. Netanyahu’s government argues that the declaration rewards Hamas and undermines ongoing diplomatic efforts, rejecting the two-state solution framework as incompatible with Israeli security requirements. Israeli leadership maintains that any Palestinian state would pose existential threats, fundamentally opposing the international community’s vision for two-state solution implementation.
The United States aligned with Israeli opposition, with diplomatic officials describing the resolution as a “misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt” that undermines serious diplomatic efforts. American opposition to the two-state solution resolution reflects continued support for Israeli positions despite growing international isolation on Palestinian recognition. This stance places the US increasingly at odds with allied nations moving toward Palestinian recognition as part of two-state solution support.
Palestinian leadership welcomed the overwhelming international support, with UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour describing the vote as reflecting “the yearning of almost everyone, the international community, to open the door for the option of peace”. Palestinian officials emphasized that the resolution provides a framework for ending Israeli occupation and realizing Palestinian rights through two-state solution implementation. The Palestinian Authority has committed to elections in 2026 without Hamas participation, addressing international concerns about governance structures under the two-state solution.
Closing Assessment
The UN General Assembly’s overwhelming endorsement of the two-state solution represents a pivotal moment in international diplomacy, with 142 nations delivering a clear message about the preferred path toward Israeli-Palestinian peace. Despite strong opposition from Israel and the United States, the international community has demonstrated unprecedented unity behind Palestinian statehood as the foundation for the two-state solution. The New York Declaration provides a concrete framework with specific timelines and requirements, moving beyond symbolic gestures toward actionable steps for two-state solution implementation. As more nations prepare to recognize Palestinian statehood in the coming weeks, the diplomatic momentum behind the two-state solution continues building despite regional resistance and ongoing conflicts that complicate implementation efforts.
