India voted in favour of resolution that demands immediate ceasefire and release of hostages in Israel-Hamas war

According to the information, countries such as China, India, Qatar, Quwait, France and number of countries in Europe voted for the resolution whereas Austria, United States, Liberia are few of the countries that voted against it. Germany, Argentina, Ukraine, Netherland are some of the countries that abstained from voting. While India voted in favour this time, it abstained to vote last time when the General Assembly considered a resolution calling for a humanitarian truce in Gaza and Israel was on October 26, according to the UN Dispatch.
Saloni Saxena, is an International Relations expert commented over India’s position on recent vote. She said, ‘India voted in favour of humanitarian ceasefire and unconditional release of hostages. The decision came after constant bombardments of Israel on Gaza and killings of thousands of children. Country, earlier abstained to vote when the draft was introduced considering the terrorist group Hamas violence towards Israelis and abducting of Israeli people.’ She further added, ‘India changed its stance after monitoring the developments of situation with time. And for countries to change their position over global conflicts or issue that has affected people and countries on such a mass level are meant to be a relevant one.’ The constant criticism around UN Security Council for not coming up with immediate humanitarian ceasefire within time. Mrs. Saxena told EAT news that United Nations Security Council actually failed in this particular case, admitting personally. ‘The visuals of war is heart wrenching. If I describe my opinion as a mother, it is one of the worse time people of Gaza is going through, currently. The brutal act of closing all the exit points and continue with the bombardments without food, water, electricity, targeting hospitals, schools and killing mercilessly is not a tolerable sight to watch. United Nations looked like an invisible organization to me throughout this time’, she said.
The international organization should have proposed any draft or demand during the initial days when air strikes, killings and bombardments were still going on, according to her. Information shared in Hindustan Times report says, ‘More than 1,200 people were killed, including 33 children and thousands injured in the terror attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on October 7. According to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, so far at least 18,205 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, about 70 per cent of whom are said to be women and children, and about 49,645 are reportedly injured, the UN office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.’
India’s stance from abstaining to vote in favour could have possible diplomatic reasons as humanitarian ground sounds questionable. Country is frequently vocal about counter terrorism and its priority towards such measures. As the war is still ongoing since October, country’s rigidity against terrorist Hamas group was nothing new until this recent session at UN General Assembly. Mrs. Saxena believes that country had to find middle ground among its agenda against terrorism and humanitarian ground. She said, ‘India has never missed a chance to criticize terrorism and motivated other states to do the same. Been a victim of terrorist attacks, country knows the destruction, a nation and its people goes through. Hamas attacking innocent children and people violently on 7th October can never be justified and India stood with the same message. That terrorism is not tolerable. However, Israel’s brutal act of killing people randomly, on the name of targeting Hamas, has left thousand of Palestinians injured and dead, mainly children. India choosing humanitarian here, is an important decision that need to be represented in this hour’.
Protests in solidarity with Palestinians are all over the world. Countries like United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, are witnessing mass protests with the slogan ‘Free Palestine’. Large crowd gathered in Dublin city, Ireland on few days ago, with Palestine flags and slogans. Talking about the war and Palestinians over social media platforms or gathering in solidarity with them, will pass the message the message that they are not alone in this, said Nicole, who attended protest in Dublin. While leaders are functioning diplomatically and within the framework of International Relations, people worldwide are standing for humanity and for each other.