The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has lauded the overwhelming UN vote in favor of a set of draft resolutions regarding Palestine at the General Assembly’s Fourth Committee.

The OIC welcomed Friday’s resolution concerning the renewal of the term of office of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for another three years by a majority of 170, with only two states—Israel and the US—voting against it.

The OIC said in a statement that the measure is an indication of the “international commitment and consensus in favor of supporting the Palestinian people’s rights, including the refugees’ right to return to their homestead in accordance with UN resolution No.194.”

OIC Secretary General, Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen, applauded the pro-Palestine stance of Member States which voted, in their overwhelming majority, in favor of the resolution.

Al-Othaimeen called on Member-States to further concretize this political support through financial contributions so as to enable UNRWA to keep up its services for Palestinian refugees pending a just and lasting solution to their plight, in line with UN resolutions.

The United Nations General Assembly renewed the mandate of the Palestinian refugee agency on Friday, in an overwhelming show of support despite unabated pressure by the US and Israel to end the agency’s work.

170 Member States voted for the resolution. Unsurprisingly, only representatives for Israel and the U.S. voted against. Canada, Cameroon, Guatemala, Vanuatu, Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Nauru abstained.

Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, UNRWA was established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 to carry out direct relief and works programs for Palestine refugees. The Agency began operations on 1 May 1950.  It provides assistance and protection for some 5.5 million registered Palestine refugees to help them achieve their full potential in human development.