UN backs Palestine
The United Nations General Assembly’s overwhelming vote in favor of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine is a far-reaching development that may go some way to advance the cause of a Palestinian state. By 142 votes to 10, the world’s nations have endorsed the idea of a Palestinian state, without Hamas at its helm. The resolution not only condemns Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks but also demands the group surrender its weapons and relinquish control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.
This is, in many ways, an extraordinary shift and a welcome change from the passive resignation with which the world has watched the catastrophic situation in Gaza. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that “there will be no Palestinian state,” something that underlines the fundamental impasse: a world consensus running up against an Israeli leadership unyielding in its opposition.
The resolution has also called for international involvement, including the possible deployment of a temporary stabilization mission. How such a mission would function in a war zone, without Israel’s cooperation, remains unclear. But there is a dire need now for such a stabilization mission. Only an active international involvement can change the situation for the better.
Still, symbolism matters. France and Saudi Arabia, unlikely partners, have managed to push through a declaration that reframes the international conversation. More is to come: Several nations, led by French president Emmanuel Macron, plan to formally recognize Palestine at the upcoming UN summit, While recognition alone does not create sovereignty, it does add pressure on Israel to reckon with the cost of permanent occupation.
However, what we need now is for the UN resolution to not remain on paper but have some impact on the ground. As things stand, Gaza is in ruins, parts of the West Bank are being taken over by Israel and there aren’t even distant prospects of peace in sight. So, it is important that the resolution translates into a concrete action and this festering, tragic conflict is brought to an end.
