Nigeria Joins Global Majority Backing UN Roadmap For Israel-Palestine Two-State Solution

NIGERIA has joined 141 other nations in endorsing the New York Declaration on the Two-State Solution, a UN-backed framework aimed at resolving the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The endorsement came during a session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday, where 142 of the 193 member states voted in favour of the declaration.

The declaration, which was applauded in the Assembly Hall upon adoption, emerged from a July international conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia at UN Headquarters. The conference is expected to resume later this month with further deliberations on implementation.

Breakdown of the Vote

While Nigeria and 141 other nations supported the resolution, Israel and nine countries — including the United States, Argentina, Hungary, and Paraguay — voted against it. An additional 12 countries abstained, reflecting the deep divisions within the international community on how best to achieve lasting peace.

What the Declaration Proposes

The New York Declaration lays out a comprehensive roadmap for peace, anchored on the creation of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine alongside Israel. The plan calls for:

• An immediate ceasefire in Gaza

• Release of hostages held in Gaza

• Disarmament of Hamas and exclusion from governance

• Normalisation of relations between Israel and Arab countries

• Collective security guarantees for all parties

French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont described the declaration as “a single roadmap to deliver the two-State solution,” stressing that it seeks to restore credibility to diplomatic efforts that have faltered for decades.

Divided Perspectives

While supporters view the declaration as a vital step toward peace, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed it as “a hollow gesture” that undermines the Assembly’s credibility. He argued that Hamas would be the biggest beneficiary, framing the endorsement as a symbolic win for the group rather than a practical step toward peace.

Global Context

The July high-level conference, held amid escalating violence in Gaza, underscored growing fears that prospects for a two-State solution are rapidly eroding. Speaking at the opening session, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated that “the central question for Middle East peace is implementation of the two-State solution, where two independent, sovereign, democratic States – Israel and Palestine – live side-by-side in peace and security.”

For Nigeria, the endorsement reaffirms its longstanding support for a negotiated two-State arrangement, aligning with the overwhelming majority of the international community calling for a peaceful and lasting resolution to one of the world’s most entrenched conflicts.