142 Votes in Favour of Hamas-free Palestinian State in UNGA

142 Votes in Favour of Hamas-free Palestinian State in UNGA

Why in News? 

Recently, The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted to back the “The New York Declaration on Palestine” in September 2025. In the voting session a total of 142 member nations including India extended support to a resolution backing the vision of a Hamas-free Palestinian state.

• In the session, 10 countries voted against it and 12 abstained. The United States and Israel opposed the declaration, highlighting their firm stance. 
• The declaration vote came just ahead of the UN Summit scheduled for September 22, 2025, in New York, which will be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.

What is The New York Declaration on Palestine?

• The New York Declaration (New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution) was adopted at a United Nations High-Level International Conference held in New York between 28 and 30 July 2025 and was co-signed by 17 UN member states. 
• It is a major international document that outlines a roadmap for peace between Israel and Palestine.
• The declaration includes clear calls to end the war in Gaza immediately. It expressed support for mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to restore ceasefire arrangements. 
• It also said that hostages must be released without delay, Palestinian prisoners should be exchanged, and Israeli forces must withdraw from Gaza. 
• The declaration added that Hamas must release hostages and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority as part of restoring legitimate governance in Gaza.
• The declaration said that urgent humanitarian assistance must reach the civilian population in Gaza. It called for opening all crossings, resuming electricity supply, and allowing fuel, medicine, food, and water to enter without restrictions. 
• The declaration stressed that starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited under international law. It also urged protection of UN agencies and humanitarian workers.
• The declaration stated that Gaza is an integral part of a Palestinian state and must remain unified with the West Bank. 
• It emphasized the principle of “One State, One Government, One Law, One Gun”, meaning that the Palestinian Authority should be the sole authority responsible for governance and security across all Palestinian territories.
• The declaration reaffirmed support for the creation of an independent, sovereign, democratic, and economically viable State of Palestine.
• The document said Israel must show a clear commitment to the two-state solution. It demanded an end to settlement activity and land grabs in occupied Palestinian territory. 
• It called on Israel to stop settler violence, respect UN resolutions such as UNSC 904, and uphold the legal and historical status of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, recognizing the role of Hashemite custodianship.
• It also called for financial and technical support to Palestinian security forces, programs to fight radicalization, and educational reforms to promote a culture of peace.
• The declaration reaffirmed opposition to illegal unilateral actions that threaten the viability of the two-state solution. It said that both sides must refrain from acts of violence and provocation.
• The declaration highlighted that ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is essential for regional stability and integration. It said that a sovereign Palestinian state and secure Israel could lead to normal relations among all countries in the region. 

Why did the USA & Israel Voted Against this Declaration?

• The United States said the declaration presented moral equivalence between terrorists and a sovereign state. The US argued the text failed to properly blame Hamas for the October 7, 2023 attacks and instead equated both sides. This text is considered unbalanced and that would not help achieve lasting peace. 
• According to the US, the declaration could undermine hostage release negotiations. They said recognition or political rewards before a full hostage resolution would weaken incentives to free captives. Rewarding concessions prematurely could harm the diplomatic channels being used to secure hostages.  
• Israel said the vote would encourage Hamas and would harm Israeli security. Israeli leaders described the resolution as a political move that could strengthen militant morale during an ongoing war. Israel called the decision “disgraceful”.
• The United States and Israel argued the declaration lacked workable security guarantees for Israel and clear mechanisms to disarm Hamas. They said the proposal relied on rapid political steps like handing weapons to the Palestinian Authority and deploying an international stabilization mission without clear timelines or binding security arrangements.

India’s Stance on the Two-Nation Solution

• India has maintained a balanced and consistent policy on the question of Israel and Palestine for decades. 
• Its recent vote in favour of the New York Declaration at the United Nations General Assembly on 12 September 2025 reaffirmed its position that a two-state solution is the only viable path to lasting peace in the Middle East.
• India was among the earliest countries to support the Palestinian cause. In 1947, India voted against the UN partition plan that created the state of Israel. Later, in 1988, India officially recognized the State of Palestine when the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared independence. 
• India has repeatedly said that peace can only come through two sovereign states living side by side within secure and recognized borders. The 1967 lines have been a reference point for India’s foreign policy. 
• In its statements at the UN, India has stressed that Palestinians deserve their own independent and democratic state while Israel’s right to security must also be fully guaranteed. 
• Over time India also developed strong ties with Israel, but it did not abandon its support for Palestinian self-determination. This dual approach shaped India’s Middle East diplomacy.