India backs UN resolution endorsing Palestinian state, two-state solution

India votes in favour of Palestine's statehood at UN

India voted in favour of the New York Declaration, a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that backs the creation of an independent Palestinian state and calls for a two-state solution to the conflict.

The resolution, which outlines “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” toward peace, was adopted with overwhelming support; 142 countries voted in favour, 10 against, and 12 abstained. It also directly condemned Hamas for the October 2023 attack on Israel.

The seven-page declaration followed an international conference held in July at UN headquarters, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, to revive dialogue on the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

India’s vote was seen as a significant diplomatic move, reaffirming its support for a negotiated settlement based on the two-state formula.

“In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must 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," the declaration stated.

About the New York Declaration

The New York Declaration calls for deploying a temporary international stabilisation mission in Gaza, under UN Security Council authority, to protect civilians and gradually transfer responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority.

Introduced by France and Saudi Arabia, and already endorsed by the Arab League along with 17 UN member states earlier this year, the resolution comes ahead of a key UN summit in New York on September 22, co-hosted by both nations. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to push for wider recognition of a Palestinian state, with other leaders likely to follow.

The declaration faced opposition from 10 countries, including Israel, the United States, Argentina, and Hungary, which raised objections to provisions such as an immediate halt to settlement activity and a requirement for Israel to explicitly endorse the two-state solution.

Originally drafted at a high-level conference in July, the declaration lays out several key demands:

• An immediate end to violence and incitement against Palestinians
• A complete halt to settlement and annexation activities in the occupied territories
• Public renunciation by Israel of annexation or settlement policies
• Recognition of Gaza as an integral part of a unified Palestinian state free from occupation, blockade, or forced displacement
• The document further underscores the need for international guarantees to sustain the peace process, warning that without such measures, the conflict risks escalating with consequences for both regional and global security