India Votes in Support of UNGA Resolution for Immediate Ceasefire in Israel-Hamas Conflict

India voted in favour of a resolution in the UN General Assembly demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict as well as the unconditional release of all hostages.

This resolution was introduced by Egypt in the 193-member UN General Assembly on Tuesday. It was adopted with 153 votes in its favour. Twenty-three countries abstained and 10 voted against the text.

The resolution, sponsored among others by Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Palestine, demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and reiterated its demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, “notably with regard to the protection of civilians.”

It also demanded the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access.”

The resolution, however, did not name Hamas. The US proposed an amendment to the draft resolution, calling for the insertion of the paragraph: “Unequivocally rejects and condemns the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting October 7, 2023 and the taking of hostages” in the main text. India voted in favour of the amendment.

Earlier the 15-nation UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire as permanent member the United States vetoed the text.

More than 1,200 people including 33 children were killed, and thousands were injured in the terror attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7. The retaliatory attack by Israel on Gaza has so far claimed the lives of at least 18,205 Palestinians, about 70 per cent of whom are said to be women and children.