JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday hailed majority backing in the UN General Assembly for condemning militant group Hamas even though a draft resolution failed to win enough votes to pass.
The US draft won 87 votes in the General Assembly on Thursday compared to 58 against but fell short of a required two-thirds majority.
Thirty-two countries abstained.
“The draft condemnation of Hamas in the UN General Assembly received a sweeping majority by countries that stood against Hamas,” Netanyahu said in an English-language statement.
“This is the first time that a majority of countries have voted against Hamas and I commend each of the 87 countries that took a principled stand.”
“I thank the American administration and US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley for the initiative.”
Haley, who steps down from her post at the end of the year, has repeatedly accused the United Nations of having an anti-Israel bias.
She has defended Israel in its latest confrontation with Hamas, the Islamist group which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007 and has fought three wars with Israel since then.
The United States had won crucial backing from the European Union, with all 28 countries supporting the draft that would have condemned Hamas for firing rockets into Israel and demanded an end to the violence.
The European Union, like the United States, blacklists Hamas as a terrorist organization.
It was the first draft resolution condemning Hamas to be presented to the 193-nation assembly, which has been meeting since 1946.
Hamas praised the outcome of the vote, describing it as a “slap” to President Donald Trump’s administration.
“The failure of the American venture at the United Nations represents a slap to the US administration and confirmation of the legitimacy of the resistance,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zahri tweeted, referring to militant groups that oppose Israel.
Netanyahu hails UN Hamas vote despite defeat
Netanyahu hails UN Hamas vote despite defeat
- “This is the first time that a majority of countries have voted against Hamas and I commend each of the 87 countries that took a principled stand”
- Hamas praised the outcome of the vote, describing it as a “slap” to President Donald Trump’s administration
760 schools reopen in Deir Ezzor, welcoming 261,000 students
- Authorities have also reported that more than 200,000 students returned to schools in Syria’s Raqqa province at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, underscoring the ongoing national momentum to resume education
DEIR EZZOR: The Syrian Arab Republic's Ministry of Education has announced the reopening of about 760 schools in Deir Ezzor province, marking a renewed focus on restoring education for more than 261,000 students after years of disruption.
The ministry said on Telegram on Saturday that the reopening was part of a broader strategy to rebuild the education system in the Syrian Arab Republic, provide a safe learning environment, and help students maintain regular studies.
Staff are working to equip schools with essential supplies and improve infrastructure through repairs and maintenance, all of which are part of a long-term plan to ensure safe and effective schooling and support educational improvement in Deir Ezzor.
Authorities have also reported that more than 200,000 students returned to schools in Syria’s Raqqa province at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, underscoring the ongoing national momentum to resume education.
Khalil Al-Ibrahim, Raqqa’s director of education, said during an inspection tour that urgent attention was being paid to addressing ongoing challenges, with continued focus on ensuring that classrooms operated without disruption.
Deputy Minister for Educational Affairs Youssef Annan recently reiterated that the ministry was monitoring school readiness and making ongoing improvements at the beginning of the new term, reinforcing the ministry’s priority of maintaining effective learning environments.
To facilitate rehabilitation and logistical support in the Syrian Jazira Region, the Ministry of Education extended the mid-year break and delayed the second semester to Feb. 1, ensuring schools were ready for a safe return.
This step followed the restoration of governmental control and was coordinated with the Syrian Democratic Forces, aiming at a unified national reopening which supported the goal of a comprehensive renewal in education.
