A UN resolution condemning Hamas for firing rockets into Israel has been hailed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even though it failed to pass in the General Assembly.

Mr Netanyahu said it was the first time such a large number of countries had supported his country’s position against Hamas.

The US-sponsored resolution won 87 votes on Thursday night, short of the two-third majority it needed.

58 countries voted against and 32 abstained.

US and Israeli diplomats were optimistic earlier in the evening that resolution would be passed in an historic first.

But then Kuwaiti motion requiring a two-thirds majority, rather than a simple majority, was accepted, meaning that passing the anti-Hamas resolution became impossible.

“The draft condemnation of Hamas in the UN General Assembly received a sweeping majority by countries that stood against Hamas,” Mr Netanyahu said on Friday.

“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.”

European Union member states including Britain and most Western countries joined Israel and the United States in supporting the resolution.

Arab countries, China, Japan, Russia and Turkey were among those opposing it.

Hamas said it was a “slap” to President Donald Trump.

Its spokesman Sami Abu Zahri tweeted: “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.”