The Trump administration condemned the Saudi and French-led push for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations on Friday, after the General Assembly approved the “New York Declaration” with 142 votes in favor, nine against, and 12 abstentions.
Morgan Ortagus, United States Counselor to the United Nations, condemned the vote.
“Make no mistake — this resolution is a gift to Hamas,” she told the General Assembly.
“The United States will not participate in this insult to the victims of October 7, but we will continue to lead real-world efforts to end the fighting and bring about permanent peace.” Today’s resolution is yet another counterproductive gesture that only benefits Hamas, prolongs the conflict, and undermines diplomatic efforts to free hostages and end the suffering in Gaza.”
After the vote, a White House official told Fox News Digital, “As the President stated, recognizing a Palestinian state would reward Hamas while hindering efforts to bring home the hostages, and he does not believe they should be rewarded. So he’s not going to do that.
The declaration, proposed at a United Nations conference in July, aims to chart a “irreversible” path to Palestinian statehood. It condemns Hamas’ attacks on October 7, demands the release of hostages, and demands that Hamas hand over control of Gaza and its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.
In Paris, the French Foreign Ministry praised the outcome, calling it a “historic vote” that demonstrated the international community’s determination to advance a “ambitious roadmap for peace and security for all in the region.”
The ministry also stated that the declaration embodies unprecedented support for principles such as an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the establishment of a viable, sovereign Palestinian state, and confirmed that the process will continue at a follow-up conference in New York on September 22nd, which will be attended by President Macron.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon described Friday’s vote as “theater,” warning that “the only beneficiary is Hamas.” When terrorists are cheering, you are advancing terror rather than peace.”
Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and president of Human Rights Voices, told Fox News Digital that the declaration is “a direct threat to American national security” and a “unabashed attempt to destroy the Jewish state.” It entails the so-called right of return, which would see a large number of Palestinians move into Israel, overwhelming the Jewish majority and ending Jewish self-determination.
She warned that its provisions on Hamas are “smoke and mirrors” and that the measure undermines the Abraham Accords by reinstating a Palestinian veto over regional peace. “It’s vital that America mount a powerful response.”
While welcoming the U.S. vote and the nine countries voting against the resolution (Argentina, Hungary, Israel, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Tonga), she condemned Germany’s support, calling it “absolutely shocking” and “undermining the vital necessity of Jewish self-determination is abhorrent.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to visit Israel on Friday, ahead of high-level U.N. meetings later this month, where countries such as France and Britain are expected to formally recognize Palestinian statehood.
