Affirming its steadfast stance against terrorism, India has strongly condemned the extensive civilian casualties in the Hamas-Israel conflict, deeming it "clearly unacceptable." India's Permanent Representative, Ruchira Kamboj, addressed the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, expressing the nation's zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and emphasizing the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis.
During the meeting, Kamboj refrained from explicitly naming the parties involved in the conflict but underscored the opposition to terrorism, particularly alluding to accusations against Hamas. She highlighted the conflict's severe toll on civilians, especially women and children, resulting in an alarming humanitarian crisis. Emphasizing the unequivocal condemnation of civilian deaths, she asserted the necessity of a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy.
India reaffirmed its unwavering support for a two-state solution, envisioning independent nations of Palestine and Israel coexisting peacefully. Kamboj advocated for continued humanitarian assistance to the affected population, revealing that India had already provided 70 tonnes of aid, including medicine and medical supplies, along with a $5 million contribution to the UN Relief and Works Agency.
The discussion followed the US' veto of Russia's proposed amendment to a Security Council resolution on Gaza the previous month. While Russia's call for a "suspension of hostilities" was vetoed, a resolution advocating steps "to create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities" passed with 13 votes in the 15-member Security Council, with the US and Russia abstaining. The US, aligning with Israel, opposed calls for a ceasefire or temporary truce.
Various nations criticized the veto privilege of the Security Council's permanent members. Kenya's delegate termed the veto as an anti-democratic symbol and advocated for its abolishment or extension to all permanent members in a reformed Security Council. Mexico's delegate supported an initiative for permanent members to voluntarily limit veto use in situations of mass atrocities.
Earlier in the day, representatives of Israel and Palestine traded charges regarding the scale of atrocities, while the US defended its veto decision. The diplomatic discussions underscored the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
(With Agency Inputs)
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