India’s stand in Hamas – Israel Conflict in the UNGA

• The resolution did not include “explicit condemnation” of the October 7 terror attacks in Israel.
• India clearly condemns terrorism. The resolution did not include the word – Hamas and hostage. Hence India abstained.

• The “Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations”

• Jordan on behalf of 22 nations of Arab League and co-sponsored by nearly 40 countries

• Date of passage of the resolution: 27^th October 2023.
• Voted in favour: 120 countries
• Voted against: 14 including the U.S, Israel, five small Pacific island nations, and four Eastern European countries — Austria, Croatia, Czechia, and Hungary
• Abstentions: 45 including India, Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan and Ukraine
• French stand: France objected to the omission of references to the October 7 attacks as well as the hostages taken, but in a break from its western allies, voted for the resolution
• Co-sponsors of the resolution: Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia, and South Africa.

• It condemned “all acts of violence aimed at Palestinian and Israeli civilians, including all acts of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks, as well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction”.

• The resolution did not specifically refer to the terror attacks by Hamas on 7^th October.

• Who proposed the amendment: Proposed by Canada and co-sponsored by the US
• What was the proposed amendment: Fix the responsibility of Hamas in the crisis.
• Voting on amendment: A majority (87) of approved the amendment (Including India)
• Voted Against amendment: 55 member states
• Abstained from voting: 23 countries.

Why the amendment failed despite majority?

• It has failed to get 2/3^rd majority.
• So the amendment could not be adopted.

• Hamas carried terror attacks on 7^th October 2023, that left more than 1,400 Israelis dead and 229 taken hostage.

• 7,700 Palestinians have been killed, around half of which are children.

• UNGA resolutions are not binding. Therefore, despite the comprehensive defeat, Israel and the US are not obliged to act on the resolution.

Note: The resolutions of the UN Security Council are legally binding. But UNGA are not legally binding.

Expressed by

India’s Deputy Permanent Representative Yojana Patel

• India had called for condemnation of the attacks and for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages.
• Terrorism is a malignancy and knows no borders, nationality, or race. The world should not buy into any justification of terror acts

• India adopted a balanced position
• It is in line with the one that it has maintained in the Russia-Ukraine war.
• This is the consensus-building exercise at the G20 Summit as well.

1. Hamas has to unconditionally releases the Israeli hostages
2. Soon after the release of hostages, Israel has to announce the ceasefire under the UNSC supervision.
3. Meanwhile speeding up the deescalating efforts.
4. All stakeholders – including Israel, Iran, as well as groups like Hezbollah — have to exercise restraint and responsibility.
5. In the long run, continuing the consensus on two nation theory
6. The consensus should help leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side-by-side in peace with Israel.