Palestinian resistance movement Hamas hailed the UN General Assembly’s vote to grant the Palestinians an upgraded status of non-member observer state

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas hailed the UN General Assembly’s vote to grant the Palestinians an upgraded status of non-member observer state, calling it a “victory.”

“This is a new victory on the road to the liberation of Palestine and return and we congratulate ourselves,” said a senior Hamas official, Ahmed Yussef, on Friday.

“We in Hamas consider this a shared achievement that casts joy on our people,” he added.

On November 26, Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khaled Meshaal voiced support for acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas in his bid for an upgraded status at the United Nations.

On Thursday, the 193-member General Assembly voted 138-9 with 41 abstentions at the United Nations for a resolution approving the upgrade. Nine countries, including Canada, ‘Israel’, and the United States, voted against it.

Hundreds of Palestinians streamed out into the streets of the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank to celebrate the upgrade.

Acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas also said that, “Indeed today is a historic day. Today we have really taken a step on the path to Palestinian independence.”

“We have a long road and difficult road ahead of us. I don’t want to spoil our victory tonight but the road ahead is still difficult,” he said, adding, “Tomorrow we begin the real war.”