Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 6th March. Indian Ambassador to the UN Ms Ruchira Kamboj on Tuesday has called for an “immediate de-escalation and eschewing of violence” in Gaza but stopped short of specifically mentioning a ceasefire, which is now a broad demand across the UN but opposed by Israel.
Kamboy told the UNGA debate on Gaza “In order to arrive at a lasting solution, we urge for an immediate de-escalation and eschewing of violence,”.
She called for “the release of all hostages, avoiding provocative and escalatory actions and to work towards creating conditions for an early resumption of direct peace negotiations”.
She reiterated New Delhi’s “strong” condemnation of civilian deaths in the conflict, Kamboj noted that the “immediate trigger” for the Gaza conflict was “the terror attacks in Israel on October 7, which were shocking and deserve our unequivocal condemnation”.
“India has a longstanding and uncompromising position against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” she said.
She said that on the conflict that has resulted in massive civilian casualties, “It is critical to prevent further escalation of violence and hostilities. It is imperative to avoid the loss of civilian lives in any conflict situation. International law and international humanitarian law must be respected under all circumstances.”
Kamboj warned about the dangers of the spillovers of the Gaza conflict.
“The humanitarian crisis has deepened, and the region and beyond have seen rising instability,” she said.
The conflict has spread in the Red Sea area where Houthis have attacked ships and were counterattacked by other countries and in Lebanon with confrontations between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.
She spoke during a debate on the US veto last month of a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
The debate was held under an Assembly resolution mandating a meeting after a veto is cast to have that permanent member explain the action and for UN members to react to it.
Kamboj made no mention of the US veto or the exercise of veto powers by the five permanent members of the Security Council, which has paralyzed it on Ukraine or Gaza or the efforts to curtail the use of vetoes in special circumstances, and has been criticized by many Member States during the debate.
UN officials have warned of an impending threat of famine in a battered Gaza where relief supplies have been severely limited.
Kamboj said, “India has provided humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine and will continue to do so.”
“It is imperative that humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza be scaled up immediately in order to avert a further deterioration in the situation,” she said.
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