Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon is confident a US draft resolution condemning Hamas will be approved by the General Assembly today.

Danon believes 50 countries will vote in favour because of the terror group bombarding Israel with missiles and incendiary devices from Gaza.

“The draft resolution demands Hamas and other militant actors, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, cease activity,” he told reporters at a press conference.

The resolution condemns Hamas using civilian infrastructure for military purposes, violating human rights and attacking humanitarian aid workers and medical staff.

It also calls on the terror organisation to return to restart an intra-Palestinian reconciliation process.

The resolution was amended to gain support of European Union, Eastern Europe countries and African states.

Arab states are expected to back the draft despite efforts by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to convince Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to gain Arab UN member states support.

Jason Greenblatt, US Ambassador to the Middle East condemned the Palestinian Authority for backing Hamas.

“The Palestinian Authority, which hates Hamas, has cut payments to Gaza for months, increasing the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, now tries to defend Hamas and terrorism by undermining a condemnation of Hamas at the UN,” he tweeted. “It’s time to speak the truth.”

Arab nations are seeking a resolution approved by two-thirds majority.

Professor Eytan Gilboa, Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, told Media Line that Arab states would vote for the resolution as they “also hate Hamas” but even if the resolution passes it means little as General Assembly resolutions, as opposed to Security Council resolutions, are recommendations.

“The disparity between anti-Israeli resolutions and those benefiting Israel’s security, clearly show an imbalance when it comes to the Middle East peace process,” he explained.

“It’s important to pass this resolution in view of the last eight months of violent Hamas-sponsored protests along the Israel-Gaza border but it’s just a drop in the bucket in terms of adopting reasonable resolutions that are not one-sided.”

There is concern over the voting UN mechanism in some quarters but the result is eagerly anticipated by allies of Israel.