UN member states to vote on French-Saudi “New York Declaration” on Palestinian statehood today

UN member states will vote on the French and Saudi “New York Declaration,” a resolution that aims to set the stage for an upcoming two-state solution conference where a number of countries are poised to recognise a Palestinian state. 

The declaration calls on Hamas to cede its power and weapons to the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, “in accordance with the objective of a sovereign and independent State of Palestine.”

The declaration also “[condemns] the attacks perpetrated on 7 October by Hamas against civilians” and calls on Hamas to release all captives in Gaza. 

Today’s events come a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that “there will be no Palestinian state,” while signing his approval for the E1 settlement plan which aims to bisect the occupied West Bank.