India again abstained from a United Nations General Assembly resolution that condemned Israel's moves in Gaza, upholding its traditional position in support of diplomacy and peaceful settlement.
Adopted on Thursday with 149 nations voting for it, 12 against — the United States among them — and 19 abstaining, the resolution denounced Israel's blockade of Gaza and refusal to grant humanitarian access.
Elaborating on India's abstention — its third on such votes — India's Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, asserted that the move was based on a fundamental conviction of settling disputes through "dialogue and diplomacy."
"Our combined effort must be to take the two sides closer. For these reasons, we abstain on this resolution," Harish said during the session.
He reiterated India's long tradition of standing for peace and human values, stating, "India has always been on the side of peace and humanity."
India's vote on this current resolution comes after two of its abstentions on previous votes: one in December 2022 on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, and another in December 2024 calling for the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Israel's obligations pursuant to international law.
The resolution voted on Thursday — tabled by Spain in a resumed emergency special session of the General Assembly — condemned starvation as a weapon of war and the illegal withholding of humanitarian aid. It called on Israel to immediately lift its Gaza blockade and make sure adequate assistance reaches all parts of the territory. It further opposed proposals for forced transfer of Gaza's Palestinian people.
Although the resolution was primarily critical of Israel, it also spoke about actions by Hamas, which rules Gaza, condemning terrorism and the group's October 2023 attack on Israel — an incident that fueled the current conflict.
After the October assault, Israel limited UN agencies and humanitarian organisations' entry into Gaza, hindering food and medical supply deliveries. In response to international backlash, Israel recently started directing aid via a newly established body called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. But the UN and other agencies claim that this is not enough, warning that Gaza is still on the edge of famine.
Repeating India's general diplomatic stance, Harish emphasized backing for a Two-State Solution, with the demand for an independent and sovereign Palestine living in harmony with Israel.
Last year, in May, India had supported a General Assembly resolution that called for a full UN membership for Palestine, thus backing its international recognition as a state.
Though he stayed away from Thursday's vote, Harish reaffirmed India's solidarity with the humanitarian crisis, saying, "We call for safe, sustained and timely supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza."
India, he said, has already provided humanitarian assistance to Gaza both in the form of bilateral aid as well as to UN-led initiatives.
Harish further emphasized calling for a ceasefire and the freeing of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas, stating, "We also believe that release of remaining hostages and a ceasefire are important to ameliorate the humanitarian situation in Gaza."
Read also| Modi Receives Call from Netanyahu Briefing Him on Israel’s Iran Offensive
Read also| Thanking Macron for Counter-Terror Backing: Jaishankar’s Diplomatic Outreach
