India abstains from UN voting for probe into Israel's rights violation in Gaza

New Delhi: India abstained from voting on a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council to investigate alleged violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, which happened during the recent 11-day conflict between Palestine and Israel.

India was among the 14 counties that abstained, while 24 voted in favour and 9 opposed the resolution, and it was adopted in an all-day session of the UN body at Geneva on Thursday. China and Russia were among those who voted for it. The special session of the council was called to discuss the human rights situation, including all kinds of crimes and abuses that happened in the Palestinian territory during the conflict.

Indra Mani Pandey, India's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, lauded the diplomatic efforts of the international community and the regional countries to bring a ceasefire between Israel and armed groups in Palestine. He also said that India wishes both the parties in conflict to desist from actions that would aggravate tensions and destabilise the peaceful status quo in the conflict-torn areas, including East Jerusalem and its neighbourhoods.

He further expressed his concerns regarding continuing violence in Jerusalem, especially in Haram Al-Sharif or Temple Mount and other Palestinian territories. Also, the possible eviction process in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem.

He said that India mourns the suffering caused by the indiscriminate rocket firings by Hamas targeting the civilian population in Israel and the latter's retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza. Also, he urged the international community to provide humanitarian assistance for the ravages of the conflict as well as of covid. He assured that India would continue to contribute to this cause.

Pandey said that India believes in dialogue, and it is the only viable option that can effectively address the issues in the region and its people. He added that recent developments underscore the need to resuming the dialogue between Israel and Palestine, aiming to establish two states living side by side peacefully with secure and recognised borders.

During the 11-day long conflict between forces in Gaza and Israel, before the current ceasefire established last Friday, 230 people were killed in Gaza while 12 in Israel.