Israel-Hamas conflict
The Israel-Hamas conflict is a long-standing and complex conflict between Israel.
A country in the Middle East, and Hamas, a Palestinian organization.
The conflict is characterized by political, territorial, and religious tensions.
Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, is considered a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States, the European Union, Israel, and others.
It was founded in 1987 and is a Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip.
Why did the Indian government abstain?
In particular, government sources said that UNGA resolution (A/ES-10/L.25) lacked an “explicit condemnation.
October 7 terror attacks by Hamas, in which 1,405 Israelis were killed, and about 240 were taken as hostages by Hamas militants.
The UNGA resolution did condemn acts of violence against Palestinian and Israeli civilians “including terrorism”, and also called for the immediate unconditional release of the hostages.
However, India had wanted more, voting in favour of an amendment authored by Canada.
Significantly, none of the government’s own formal statements since October 7, including India’s “Explanation of Vote” delivered after the resolution was passed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s conversations with foreign leaders since the attacks referred to Hamas.
New Delhi has also not as of yet designated Hamas a terror group, something Israeli Ambassador to India Naor Gilon has demanded.
Is India’s vote a break from the past?
India’s vote on the UNGA resolution is no doubt a break from its past voting record at the United Nations.
India voted against the partition of Palestine and the creation of a separate state of Israel in 1948.
The first non-Arab state to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the representative of the people.
Also recognise Palestine in 1988, and consistently voted against Israel at the United Nations.
1990s, especially once India established full diplomatic ties with Israel, its votes at the UN grew more nuanced.
Abstaining votes that directly criticised Israel, or called for international tribunals on its treatment of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories of West Bank and Gaza.
In December 1991, just weeks before India and Israel opened their embassies, India was part of a majority that voted at the UNGA.
To revoke an earlier resolution that equated Zionism with “racism and racial discrimination”.
What does India’s stand signify?
India’s abstention at the UNGA was welcomed by Israel.
They would have wanted India to vote against the resolution, as U.S., the U.K., and Israeli allies.
Among countries that abstained were India’s other Quad partners Australia and South Korea, and NATO members, including Canada and European countries.
The large majority of 120 countries that voted for the resolution were India’s South Asian neighbours, including Bhutan, ASEAN,BRICS ,Arab and most countries of the ‘Global South’.
If India’s abstention is a signal of a decided shift in favour of Israel for future votes, it is clear which groupings India would find itself closer to.
Some have pointed out that India’s abstention is not as much a sign of its commitments to any policy.
In order to keep a “tightrope balance” between conflicting sides, both of which India has close ties to.
In that sense over the past decade, India has consistently abstained from all resolutions critical of Russia’s operations in Ukraine both in 2014 and 2022.
A 2016 resolution calling for a ceasefire by Syria, all resolutions from 2017-2022 that condemned the Myanmar military junta for the expulsion of Rohingya.
This would explain India’s stand last month at the UNGA as more of a decision not to antagonise either side in an increasingly polarised world.
COMMENTS