The Trump administration on Friday criticized efforts spearheaded by Saudi Arabia and France to establish a Palestinian state, following the General Assembly’s adoption of the “New York Declaration.” The measure passed with 142 votes in favor, while the U.S. and nine other nations opposed it, and 12 abstained.
Morgan Ortagus, U.S. United Nations Counselor, denounced the vote.
“Let there be no doubt — this resolution serves as a boon for Hamas,” she stated to the General Assembly members.
“The United States refuses to partake in what amounts to an affront to the victims of October 7,” she declared, “but we will persist in spearheading tangible efforts to halt the conflict and achieve lasting peace. This resolution today is merely another unhelpful act that solely benefits Hamas, prolongs the war, and undermines crucial diplomatic initiatives aimed at securing the release of hostages and alleviating the suffering in Gaza.”
Following the vote, a White House official informed Digital that “as the President articulated, he would be giving an advantage to Hamas and impeding efforts to return the hostages if he were to recognize a Palestinian state, and he believes they ought not to be rewarded. Therefore, he will not proceed with that.”
Introduced at a United Nations conference in July, the declaration aims to outline what its proponents characterize as an “irreversible” trajectory towards Palestinian statehood. It denounces Hamas for the October 7 assaults, insists on the release of captives, and urges Hamas to surrender its authority over Gaza and transfer its armaments to .
From Paris, the French Foreign Ministry applauded the outcome, labeling it a “historic vote” that showcased the global community’s resolve to push forward an “ambitious plan for peace and security for everyone in the region.”
The ministry further stated that the declaration signifies unparalleled backing for tenets including an immediate cessation of hostilities, the freeing of hostages, and the establishment of a viable, independent Palestinian state. It also confirmed that the initiative would proceed with a subsequent conference in New York on September 22, with President Emmanuel Macron expected to attend.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador described Friday’s vote as “mere spectacle,” cautioning, “Hamas is the sole beneficiary. When terrorists applaud, you are not fostering peace; you are fostering terror.”
Anne Bayefsky, who directs the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and presides over Human Rights Voices, conveyed to Digital that the declaration represents “a direct peril to American national security” and also “an undisguised bid to dismantle the Jewish state. It encompasses the purported right of return — the influx of large numbers of Palestinians into Israel in a manner that would overwhelm the Jewish majority and terminate Jewish self-determination.”
She cautioned that its stipulations regarding Hamas are “deceptive” and asserted that the measure weakens the Abraham Accords by reintroducing a Palestinian veto concerning regional peace. “It is imperative that America orchestrate a robust reaction,” she added.
While applauding the U.S. vote and the nine nations that opposed the resolution — Argentina, Hungary, , Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Tonga — she criticized Germany’s endorsement, remarking that it was “utterly astonishing… undermining the crucial requirement of Jewish self-determination is detestable.”
On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed intentions to travel to Israel before high-level U.N. gatherings scheduled for later this month, during which nations such as France and Britain are anticipated to officially acknowledge Palestinian statehood.