The Trump administration on Friday denounced a United Nations General Assembly vote that approved a Saudi- and French-led declaration intended to chart an "irreversible" path toward Palestinian statehood, calling the measure a concession to Hamas and vowing not to participate in what it called an "insult" to victims of the Oct. 7 attacks.
The General Assembly approved the "New York Declaration" by a vote of 142 in favor, with the United States and nine other countries voting against and 12 abstaining. U.S. United Nations Counselor Morgan Ortagus told the assembly, "Make no mistake — this resolution is a gift to Hamas," and said the administration would not take part in the summit outcome while promising the United States would "continue to lead real-world efforts to end the fighting and to deliver a permanent peace."
A White House official, speaking after the vote, said the president would not recognize a Palestinian state because doing so would "be rewarding Hamas and would be hindering efforts to bring home the hostages." The declaration, proposed during a U.N. conference in July, condemns Hamas for the Oct. 7 attacks, demands the release of hostages and calls for Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza and turn over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority. Sponsors have described the measure as a roadmap intended to press toward a viable, sovereign Palestinian state.
The French Foreign Ministry hailed the outcome as a "historic vote," saying it demonstrated international determination to advance an "ambitious roadmap for peace and security for all in the region." The ministry said the process would continue at a follow-up conference in New York on Sept. 22, which France said President Emmanuel Macron would attend.
Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon called the vote "theater," saying the "only beneficiary is Hamas" and that the measure advanced terror rather than peace. Critics on the right in the United States also condemned the vote; Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust, characterized the declaration as "a direct threat to American national security" that she said would undermine Jewish self-determination and the Abraham Accords. Bayefsky criticized Germany for supporting the declaration and called for a strong U.S. response.
Nine countries voted alongside the United States against the resolution: Argentina, Hungary, Israel, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Tonga. Twelve member states abstained.
Separately, the administration has restricted some Palestinian participation at U.N. meetings: a separate announcement said Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied visas to certain Palestinian leaders for the General Assembly, citing alleged links to terror support. Rubio also said he planned to visit Israel ahead of the high-level U.N. meetings later this month, where France and Britain are among those expected to press for formal recognition steps.
Results were displayed in the General Assembly chamber after Friday's vote, and sponsors said the follow-up conference would seek to translate the declaration's language into concrete political and security steps. U.S. officials reiterated concerns that the declaration could complicate diplomatic efforts to secure hostages' release and end the conflict in Gaza, while proponents argued the vote reflected widespread international backing for a two-state pathway and immediate measures such as a ceasefire and hostage releases.
The vote comes amid heightened diplomatic activity and disagreement among Western capitals over the timing and conditions for recognizing Palestinian statehood. Sponsors said the declaration is intended to maintain momentum toward a negotiated resolution, while opponents warned it could reward armed groups and complicate ongoing efforts to secure a durable peace and the return of hostages.