By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS India on Friday abstained on a General Assembly resolution critical of Israel, stating that the efforts should be focused on to bring the two sides in the Gaza conflict closer to find a solution based on dialogue and diplomacy.
The resolution called for an immediate end to the blockade of Gaza by Israel and asked it to ensure that humanitarian aid is allowed to reach all parts of the area in adequate quantities.
India was one of 19 countries that abstained on the resolution with 149 votes, with 12, including the United States, voted against it.
India Permanent Representative to the UN P. Harish explained the abstention the third time and said it was motivated by “the belief that there is no other way to resolve conflicts, but through dialogue and diplomacy”.
He said that “Our joint effort should be directed towards bringing the two sides closer. For these reasons, we abstain on this resolution,”.
“India has always been on the side of peace and humanity,” he said.
Harish said that India’s stand on this resolution was in continuation of its abstention on two others.
The resolutions of December 2022 on human rights of Palestinians in occupied territories and December 2024 asked the World Court’s opinion on Israel’s obligations to the UN and related bodies.
The resolution was introduced by Spain during an emergency special session of the General Assembly, “strongly condemned” what it said was the “use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and the unlawful denial of humanitarian access”.
It called for an immediate end to the blockade of Gaza by Israel and asked it to ensure that humanitarian aid is allowed to reach all parts of the area in adequate quantities.
The resolution condemned suggestions to transfer or deport the Palestinian population from Gaza.
The resolution was also critical of Hamas, which controls Gaza, condemned all acts of terrorism.
The Hamas Palestinian militant group attacked Israel in October 2023 set off the continuing Israeli retaliation.
Israel cut off the UN’s and related organizations’ access to Gaza to provide food and medicines to civilians last month it began fueling aid through a new organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
UN and other organizations have criticized it as inadequate and warned that Gaza was facing mass starvation.
Ambassador Harish reiterated India’s support for a Two-State Solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict with the establishment of an independent State of Palestine, “living side by side, in peace with Israel”.
India voted in favor of a General Assembly resolution which called for full membership in the UN for Palestine, which would in effect give it international recognition as a nation.
India abstained on UNGA resolution, Harish said: “We call for safe, sustained and timely supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.”
India has also provided humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, both bilaterally and through the United Nations, he said.
He added: “We also believe that release of remaining hostages (from Israel held by Hamas) and a ceasefire are important to ameliorate the humanitarian situation in Gaza”.
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