India has cast its vote in favor of a United Nations resolution denouncing Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, as per media reports. The resolution, which was passed on Thursday, garnered support from various nations, highlighting global concern over settlement activities.
According to reports, the resolution faced opposition from seven countries, including the United States and Canada, while eighteen countries opted for abstention. This decision comes in the wake of India’s recent abstention from a UN resolution calling for an “immediate, durable, and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, sparked by attacks on Israel on October 7, has resulted in a tragic loss of life, with over 11,000 casualties in Gaza. The toll includes 1,200 Israelis killed in the Hamas attacks, with more than 200 individuals taken hostage.
The government had emphasized that the UNGA resolution did not explicitly condemn the terrorist attacks of October 7. An amendment was proposed to rectify this omission before the main resolution vote. Although the amendment secured 88 votes in favor, it fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority.
“In the absence of all elements of our approach not being covered in the final text of the resolution, we abstained in the vote on its adoption,” clarified a government source to news agency PTI.
India’s stance reflects a nuanced approach to the complex issue, balancing concerns for the humanitarian crisis with an unwavering commitment to combatting terrorism. This recent vote marks a significant diplomatic shift for India, aligning its position with global sentiments on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and settlement issues.
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