India votes in favor of a Gaza cease-fire
Following months of increasing international concern over thousands of civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli military offensive, India on Wednesday “struck the right balance” and shifted its stance in the UN General Assembly by supporting a resolution calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip. According to the UN, the resolution was approved with “a large majority of 153 (nations) in favor and 10 against, with 23 abstentions,” and it also called for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages as well as ensuring humanitarian access.” Among the ten countries that voted against the resolution were the US and Israel.
The situation in Gaza, Lebanon, and maritime commerce in the area were discussed by Israeli Foreign Minister Eliyahu Cohen and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar only hours before the vote. Please take notice that on October 28, India abstained from voting on a resolution about the Gaza crisis at the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution called for the urgent implementation of a humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, which would end hostilities and allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip. At that time, New Delhi said that there should be a “zero tolerance approach to terrorism” and that the terror incidents that occurred in Israel on October 7 were appalling and deserving of condemnation.
“India has voted in favor of the resolution just adopted by the General Assembly,” said Ruchira Kamboj, India’s permanent representative to the UN, after the resolution’s passage. There are several facets to the problem this august body has been discussing. Concerns about the captives captured at that time and the terrorist assault on Israel on October 7th are two among them. There is a serious humanitarian catastrophe and a significant death toll among civilians, particularly among women and children.
“There is the issue of observing international humanitarian law in all circumstances,” Ms. Kamboj said. There is also the ongoing effort to resolve the protracted Palestine conflict with a two-state solution that is both peaceful and long-lasting. Finding the correct balance in this very challenging moment is our task. The Secretary-General’s reference to Article 99 of the UN Charter highlights the seriousness and complexity of the challenges facing the international community. As a result, we applaud the fact that the world community has been able to unite in order to tackle the many issues the area is now experiencing.
The UN said on Wednesday that it was unable to include “two amendments making specific reference to extremist group Hamas in the resolution that was passed” due to member voting. Since Hamas was not mentioned in the main resolution, the US suggested changing it to include the following sentence: “Unequivocally rejects and condemns the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages.” According to sources, India voted on Wednesday in favor of the change.
Days after the 15-nation UN Security Council failed to pass a resolution on the Israel-Hamas crisis, the UNGA held a vote on Wednesday.
