India backs UN resolution demanding Gaza ceasefire
The vote in the UN General Assembly comes only days after the United States vetoed a similar resolution in the UN Security Council.
India voted in favor of a draft resolution at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that called for an immediate humanitarian truce in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war as well as the unconditional release of all captives.
Several nations, including Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Palestine, supported the resolution calling for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire. Ten nations, including the United States and Israel, voted against it, while 23 abstained.
“It’s a historic day in terms of the powerful message that was sent from the General Assembly,” Palestinian envoy to the United Nations Riyad Mansour said, according to news agency AFP.
The proposed resolution included no reference of Hamas, leading the United States, Israel’s closest supporter, to submit an amendment with the following paragraph: “Unequivocally rejects and condemns the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages.”
This change was approved by India.
“India has voted in favour of the resolution just adopted by the General Assembly. The situation that this August body has been deliberating upon has many dimensions. There was the terrorist attack in Israel on 7 October and the concern for the hostages taken at that time. There is an enormous humanitarian crisis and a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially of women and children. There is the issue of observing international humanitarian law in all circumstances. And there is the endeavour to find a peaceful and lasting two-state solution to the longstanding Palestine question,” stated India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj.
Ms Kamboj stated that India appreciates the international community’s efforts to create common ground in order to confront the terrible consequences of the region’s war.
“Our challenge, in this extraordinarily difficult time, is to strike the right balance. The gravity and complexity of what the international community faces are underlined by the secretary general invoking Article 99 of the Charter of the United Nations. We, therefore, welcome the fact that the international community unity has been able to find a common ground to address the multiple challenges facing the region right now,” she added.
India voted against a similar resolution in October
In October, India voted against a similar resolution calling for an urgent humanitarian cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. Despite its abstention, India has advocated for free humanitarian access to Gaza.
The vote in the UN General Assembly comes only days after the United States vetoed a similar resolution in the UN Security Council. The UN Security Council resolution proposed by the UAE and supported by nearly 90 member nations gained 13 votes in favor, with the United Kingdom abstaining.
On October 7, Hamas launched a spectacular land-sea-air attack, killing almost 1,200 Israelis, the majority of whom were civilians. In reaction, Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, a Hamas stronghold, killing approximately 18,000 people, 70% of whom are claimed to be women and children, in the densely populated Palestinian territory.
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