The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement to welcome the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly to recognise “the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination”, Al Jazeera reports.

The ministry pointed out that 170 countries voted in favour of the resolution including states “that have evolved their positions to support this fundamental right”.

Only Israel, the United States and four others voted against it, while nine countries including Palau and Tonga abstained.

The resolution is welcome “at a time when the Palestinian people are facing genocide and ongoing violations of all their rights, including the right to self-determination”, the ministry said, adding that it gives hope to Palestinians that the world is ready to “confront genocide, colonial settlement expansion, and settler terrorism”.