A US draft resolution failed to secure the approval of two-thirds of the UN General Assembly to condemn the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) for terrorism.
Seventy-seven countries voted in favor of the draft resolution, while 57 abstained and 33 abstained.
The leader of Hamas, Sami Abu Zuhri, said that the failure of the draft resolution in the United Nations is a slap to the US administration, and a confirmation of the legitimacy of the resistance and great political support for the people and the Palestinian cause. The Palestinian presidency also welcomed the failure to pass this resolution.
"The failure of the American administration to pass this resolution is a great victory for the Palestinian right, for the Arab and Islamic incubators, for the liberals of the world, for the lovers of the Palestinian people, and for the American administration and its policies in the region."
The draft resolution submitted by US Ambassador Nicky Healy failed to win the two-thirds majority needed to pass it after Kuwait succeeded by only three votes in passing a procedural resolution stipulating that the draft resolution should be passed by a two-thirds majority.
The draft resolution calls for condemnation of Hamas and rocket fire from Gaza, without any demand to stop the repeated attacks and violations committed by Israel against the Palestinians.