US fails to win support to condemn Hamas

A US attempt to get the United Nations to condemn violence by Palestinian militant group Hamas for the first time failed because the draft resolution fell short of votes needed in the General Assembly.

The resolution required two-thirds support and while Assembly resolutions are non-binding, they can carry political weight. The US text received 87 votes in favour, 58 against, 32 abstentions and 16 countries did not vote.

In an earlier procedural move requested by Kuwait, the 193-member body narrowly voted to require two-thirds support and not a simple majority for adoption of the draft resolution.