For the First Time, India Backs a ‘Humanitarian Ceasefire’ in Gaza

India is among 153 United Nations (UN) member states that have voted in favour of an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza in a General Assembly resolution introduced by the Arab states on Tuesday.

The resolution titled "Protection of Civilians and Upholding Legal and Humanitarian Obligations” calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, unconditional and immediate release of all hostages and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza.

The UN resolution was adopted with 153 nations voting in its favour, while 10 countries, including the US and Israel, opposed it. A total of 23 nations abstained from the UN vote.

The death toll in Gaza since Israel Defence Forces (IDF) started the retaliatory operations in the Palestinian enclave has crossed 18,000, according to Gaza Health Ministry.

This is the first time that New Delhi has backed the demand for a ceasefire in Gaza. Previously, at another UN General Assembly resolution on 27 October, India had abstained from voting.

Yojna Patel, India's deputy permanent representative to the UN, reasoned at the time that the resolution hadn't condemned Hamas and that there was a need to send a "clear message against terror and violence".

Explaining India's UNGA vote on Tuesday, Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj called for striking a "right balance" on multiple challenges due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

"There is the terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October and the concern for the hostages taken at that time. There is an enormous humanitarian crisis and 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 long-standing Palestine question," Kamboj underscored.

The Indian envoy welcomed the fact that the international community had finally able to find a "common ground" to address these challenges.

Excessive Civilian Casualties Require Immediate Ceasefire: Ex-Envoy

Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta, told Sputnik India that New Delhi has maintained all along that it condemned the terrorist attack by Hamas, but rising civilian casualties, adherence to international humanitarian law and the expansion of the conflict were its major concerns.

Trigunayat noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed condolences during a telephone call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the wake of the bombing of the Al-Ahli Hospital in October.

The ex-envoy stressed that New Delhi has been clear in its commitment to supply humanitarian aid to Palestine, having sent 70 tonnes of relief supplies to Gaza since the conflict erupted on 7 October.

He stated that although New Delhi didn’t vote in favour of a previous UN resolution calling for a ceasefire, it had backed two subsequent resolutions, including one which condemned "Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan".

"However, excessive civilian casualties and continuing strife require immediate ceasefire and release of remaining hostages which is what New Delhi has conveyed through this positive vote. India supports, as always, the need for direct negotiations and the two-State solution with a sovereign and viable state of Palestine," Trigunayat asserted.

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1 December 2023, 18:31

For First Time, India Backs ‘Humanitarian Ceasefire’ in Gaza

Excessive Civilian Casualties Require Immediate Ceasefire: Ex-Envoy