India hopes that Palestine’s application to join the UN will be reviewed and approved
India has expressed optimism that the US-blocked application by Palestine to join the UN as a full member will be reexamined and the country’s efforts to join the global organization will be supported.
Last month, the US rejected a resolution in the UN Security Council about the Palestinians’ request for full membership in the organization.
A draft resolution that would have proposed to the 193-member UN General Assembly that the State of Palestine be accepted as a member of the UN was put to a vote by the 15-nation Council.
With the US exercising its veto and Switzerland and the UK abstaining, the motion received 12 votes in favor. The proposed resolution needed the support of nine Council members in order to pass, and none of the Council’s five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—could veto it. While it is true that the aforementioned veto prevented the Security Council from approving Palestine’s application for membership in the UN, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, stated here that, in accordance with India’s long-standing position, we hope that this will be reconsidered in due course and that Palestine’s endeavor to become a member of the UN will get endorsed.
In 1974, India became the first state outside the Arab world to acknowledge the Palestine Liberation Organization as the only and rightful representation of the Palestinian people. India also established its Representative Office to the Palestine Authority in Gaza in 1996; this office was eventually moved to Ramallah in 2003. India was among the first nations to recognize the State of Palestine in 1988. Palestine was given the status of a non-member observer state by the UN General Assembly in 2012. Palestine may attend international meetings thanks to this status, but it is unable to cast a vote on resolutions. The Holy See, which represents the Vatican, is the only other non-member observer state at the UN.
Speaking at a gathering of the General Assembly on Wednesday, Kamboj emphasized that India’s leadership has always emphasized that the only way to bring about a lasting peace is via a two-state solution reached through substantive and direct discussions between Israel and Palestine on final status issues. She said that India is dedicated to promoting a two-state solution in which the Palestinian people may live in freedom inside safe boundaries in an independent nation while taking Israel’s security considerations into consideration.
Kamboj emphasized that in order to reach a long-term resolution, India will strongly advise all sides to create an environment that would allow direct peace talks to start as soon as possible. Palestine asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to reconsider considering its bid for full UN membership in a letter dated April 2. A two-thirds majority of the members present and voting in the General Assembly are necessary for a state to be accepted as a full member of the UN, and approval of the state’s application is necessary for full membership in both bodies.
Kamboj pointed out that the humanitarian catastrophe brought on by the most recent battle in Gaza has been getting worse over the course of more than six months. She also mentioned the possibility of increasing instability both inside and outside of the area. Kamboj emphasized India’s stance on the war by stating that it is just intolerable that there has been a significant loss of civilian life as a result of the continuing battle between Israel and Hamas, particularly among women and children. India has vehemently denounced the civilian casualties in the fighting.
According to Kamboj, the terror incidents that occurred in Israel on October 7 were horrifying and should be strongly denounced. Terrorism and hostage-taking cannot have a rationale. India has maintained a steadfast and unwavering stance against terrorism in all of its guises. Additionally, Kamboj said, “We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” India emphasized that in order to prevent the situation from becoming worse, it is crucial that humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza be increased right now. In addition to stating that India has given and will continue to provide humanitarian help to the people of Palestine, Kamboj added, “We urge all parties to come together in this endeavour.” According to figures from Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that, as of October 7, 2023, at least 34,568 Palestinians have died and 77,765 have been wounded in Gaza.
Two Israeli troops were reported dead in Gaza during the afternoons of April 28 and May 1, according to OCHA. Since the start of the ground operation, 1,602 troops have been wounded and 262 soldiers have died in Gaza, according to the Israeli military. Furthermore, since October 7, when Hamas assaulted Israel, over 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, including 33 children, have died in Israel. The bulk of these deaths occurred on that day. According to an estimate provided by Israeli officials, as of May 1, 133 Israelis and international people, including deceased whose corpses are withheld, were still held hostage in Gaza.
