US tells UN it takes landmark vote condemning Hamas ‘very seriously’

US Ambassador Nikki Haley is urging countries at the United Nations to back a US-drafted resolution condemning the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, warning in a letter that Washington takes the vote “very seriously.”

The UN General Assembly is scheduled to vote Thursday on the draft resolution that would condemn Hamas for firing rockets into Israel and demand that it ends the violence.

In a letter sent to UN diplomatic missions, Haley warns there could be attempts by some countries to introduce amendments to the text and urged ambassadors to vote against any such proposed changes.

“The United States takes the outcome of this vote very seriously,” Haley wrote in the letter circulated yesterday that was obtained by AFP.

“The resolution has been carefully-crafted to address a specific problem, and it reflects consultations with many stakeholders to ensure balance.

“That is why we are asking that you not only vote in favor of the resolution but that you also vote against any amendments or other efforts to undermine adoption of the text,” she added.

If the US-drafted resolution is adopted, it would mark the first time that the assembly has taken aim at Hamas, the Islamist terrorist group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007.

— with AFP