JERUSALEM, Sept 13 — Israel said a “disgraceful” vote by the UN General Assembly yesterday in favour of a Hamas-free Palestinian state would encourage the armed group to continue the Gaza war.
Foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said in a post on X that Israel “utterly rejects” the declaration, calling it evidence that the General Assembly had become “a political circus detached from reality”.
“There is no reference to the simple fact that Hamas is solely responsible for the continuation of the war, through its refusal to return the hostages and disarm,” Marmorstein said.
“The resolution does not advance a solution of peace — on the contrary, it encourages Hamas to continue the war,” he added.
“Israel thanks all the countries that did not lend their hand to this disgraceful decision in the General Assembly.”
The General Assembly voted yesterday to back the “New York Declaration”, which seeks to breathe new life into the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine — without the involvement of Hamas.
The text was adopted by 142 votes in favour, 10 against — including Israel and key ally the United States — and 12 abstentions.
It condemns “the attacks committed by Hamas against civilians on the 7th of October” 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza, and demands that Hamas release all the hostages taken on that day.
The declaration also calls on Hamas to “end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State”. — AFP
