United Nations:

India called the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan a “positive step” and claimed that the humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas was “simply unacceptable”. “We are deeply troubled by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The humanitarian crisis has further deepened and instability in the region and beyond continues to grow,” Ambassador Ruchila Kamboi, India’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told the UN General Assembly on Monday.

She said India considered the resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council on March 25 “a positive step”. Ms Kamboy said the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas had resulted in a large number of civilian deaths, especially women and children.

“The resulting humanitarian crisis is completely unacceptable,” she said, adding that Delhi strongly condemned the death of civilians in the conflict and that loss of civilian life must be avoided in any conflict situation.

The resolution adopted by the UN Security Council last month called for “an immediate ceasefire during Ramadan that would be respected by all parties, leading to a lasting and sustainable ceasefire.” It also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian access to meet their medical and other humanitarian needs. The passage of the resolution marked a breakthrough in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which had been going on for more than five months.

The Security Council of 15 countries adopted the resolution proposed by the 10 elected non-permanent members, with 14 countries voting in favor and no objection, while the United States, a permanent member of the Security Council, abstained from voting.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the “long-awaited” Gaza resolution must be implemented. “Failure would be unforgivable.” However, on March 22, just three days before the Security Council adopted the resolution, permanent members Russia and China vetoed another resolution proposed by the United States on Gaza. The U.S.-led draft states that the “top priority” is an “immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides.” The vetoes by Beijing and Moscow triggered debate in the U.N. General Assembly, as the Security Council required the president of the 193-member U.N. body to convene within 10 working days of a veto.

Ms. Kamboy emphasized that Indian leaders have clearly stated India’s position on the conflict on many occasions.

She said there was no justification for terrorist attacks or hostage-taking, stressing that the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 last year was shocking and worthy of “our unequivocal condemnation.” “India has a long-standing and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and we demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” Ms Kamboy said.

India expressed concern over the “grave” humanitarian situation in Gaza and stressed the need to immediately expand humanitarian assistance to the people of the Gaza Strip to avoid further deterioration of the situation.

Ms Kamboy welcomed the efforts of the United Nations and the international community to achieve peace in the region.

She noted that India has provided humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people and “will continue to do so.” Indian leaders have repeatedly emphasized that only a two-state solution through direct and meaningful negotiations between the two parties on final status issues can lead to lasting peace.

“We are committed to supporting a two-state solution that allows the Palestinian people to live freely in an independent state within secure borders, with due regard for Israel’s security needs,” Ms. Kamboy said, urging all parties to create a solution that benefits the Palestinian people. condition. Direct peace negotiations should be resumed at an early date.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) quoted the Gaza Ministry of Health (MoH) as saying that in the six months from October 7 to the afternoon of April 8, 2023, at least 33,207 Palestinians were killed and 75,933 injured in Gaza.

According to the Gaza government media office, the death toll included approximately 14,500 children and 9,560 women.

More than 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, including 33 children, have been killed in Israel, the vast majority on October 7 last year, when Hamas launched a shocking terror attack on Israel. Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, expressed deep regret that “due to the long-term inability of the Security Council to speak with one voice on serious and important issues”, the General Assembly must hold a regular meeting on the veto motion. “We are once again meeting under this initiative at a time when the conflict in Gaza enters its bloody sixth month, when death and destruction are rife and divisions persist among Member States, especially within the Security Council,” he said.

Francis described the conflict in Gaza as “an injury to our common humanity.” As Ramadan ends on April 9, Francis said millions of people around the world will celebrate the religious holiday of Eid al-Fitr in the safety of their homes, “while Gazans will once again offer sacrifices to the ruins of their mosques and their destroyed homes” “I implore Council members to use their authority effectively to support an immediate and, importantly, lasting ceasefire on the ground,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)