By Benita Keme-Palacio
Copyright greaterbelize
UN Votes to Back Independent Palestinian State, Condemns Israeli Attacks
The United Nations General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly endorsed a declaration outlining “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” towards the creation of an independent State of Palestine. The vote came ahead of a meeting of world leaders on September 22.
The resolution passed with 142 votes in favour, 10 against, and 12 abstentions.
“The Declaration commits to taking tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution, and to achieve, through concrete actions, as rapidly as possible, the realisation of an independent, sovereign, economically viable, and democratic State of Palestine living side by side, in peace and security, with Israel,” the UN said in its statement.
The UN added that it condemns the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas, which triggered the war in Gaza, and also condemns Israeli attacks on civilians and infrastructure, siege, and starvation, “which have resulted in a devastating humanitarian catastrophe.”
Belize voted in favour of the resolution, meanwhile, the United States and Israel voted against the resolution.
The United States opposed the move and described the decision as “yet another misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt” and said, “Far from promoting peace, the conference has already prolonged the war, emboldened Hamas and harmed the prospects of peace.”
Israel rejected the resolution. “This is not diplomacy; it is theatre,” its delegate said. “We will not allow Hamas to win in this Assembly what it could not gain on October 7.”
Palestine’s envoy called the vote “a good omen,” adding, “This decision represents peace.”
The war in Gaza has killed nearly 65,000 and injured more than 164,000, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
