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Hamas slams US veto of Palestinian UN membership bid

Twelve countries voted in favour of the draft resolution.

19 Apr 2024 09:14am
The UN Security Council votes on a resolution allowing Palestinian UN membership at United Nations headquarters in New York, on April 18, 2024, during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. - Photo by AFP
The UN Security Council votes on a resolution allowing Palestinian UN membership at United Nations headquarters in New York, on April 18, 2024, during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. - Photo by AFP

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - Palestinian fighters group Hamas condemned on Friday the US veto that ended a long-shot Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership.

"Hamas condemns the American veto at the Security Council of the draft resolution granting Palestine full membership in the United Nations," the Gaza Strip rulers said in a statement, which comes amid growing international concern over the toll inflicted by the war in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The veto by Israel's main ally and military backer had been expected ahead of the vote, which took place more than six months into Israel's offensive in Gaza.

Twelve countries voted in favour of the draft resolution, which was introduced by Algeria and "recommends to the General Assembly that the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations.

Britain and Switzerland abstained. - AFP

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