Bharat has abstained in the UN General Assembly on a
resolution that called for an immediate humanitarian truce in the Israel-Hamas
conflict leading to a cessation of hostilities. It also called for unhindered
humanitarian access in the Gaza strip.
Israel has launched a massive counter-offensive
against Hamas after the militant group killed more than 1,400 people since they
launched an unprecedented attack on October 7.
The 193 members of the UN General Assembly (UNGA),
which met in a resumed 10th Emergency Special Session, voted on the draft
resolution submitted by Jordan and co-sponsored by more than 40 nations
including Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia and South Africa.
The resolution titled “Protection of civilians and
upholding legal and humanitarian obligations” was adopted with 120 nations
voting in its favour, 14 against it and 45 abstaining.
Besides Bharat, countries that abstained included
Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Ukraine and UK.
The Jordanian-drafted resolution did not make any
mention of the militant group Hamas, with US expressing outrage at the “omission
of evil”.
Before the general assembly voted on the resolution,
the 193-member body considered an amendment proposed by Canada and co-sponsored
by US to the text.
The amendment proposed by Canada asked for inserting a
paragraph in the resolution that would state that the general assembly “unequivocally
rejects and condemns the terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel
starting on 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages, demands the safety,
well-being and humane treatment of the hostages in compliance with
international law, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release”.
Bharat voted in favour of the amendment along with 87
other nations, while 55 member states voted against it and 23 abstained. The
draft amendment could not be adopted, having failed to obtain a two-third
majority of members present and voting.
President of the 78th session of the UNGA, Dennis
Francis, announced that the draft amendment could not be adopted.
The Jordanian-drafted resolution called for an
immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of
hostilities.
It also demanded the immediate, continuous, sufficient
and unhindered provision of essential goods and services to civilians
throughout the Gaza Strip, including but not limited to water, food, medical
supplies, fuel and electricity.
The draft resolution stressed the imperative, under
international humanitarian law, of ensuring that civilians are not deprived of
objects indispensable to their survival.
It also called for “immediate, full, sustained, safe
and unhindered humanitarian access” for the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and other United Nations
humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners.
The draft resolution also demanded humanitarian access
for the International Committee of the Red Cross and all other humanitarian
organisations.
This should be done by upholding humanitarian
principles and delivering urgent assistance to civilians in the Gaza Strip,
encouraging the establishment of humanitarian corridors and other initiatives
to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians, according to the
resolution.
PTI
