India supports UN resolution against Israeli settlements, US opposes

New Delhi: India voted in favour of a UN resolution, approved on Thursday, condemning Israeli settlements in Palestine while seven countries including the US opposed it, NDTV reported.

The resolution condemned Israel’s settlement activities in ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan’.

While Canada opposed it, eighteen countries abstained from the vote.

Earlier India abstained from vote on another UN resolution that sought ‘immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce’ between Israel and Hamas.

The decision to abstain from vote has to do with India’s concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

India alongside made it clear that there can be no ‘equivocation on terror’.

‘The Resolution in the UNGA did not include any explicit condemnation of the terrorist attacks of October 7. An amendment was moved to include this aspect, prior to the vote on the main resolution,’ news agency PTI reported citing a source.

The resolution gained 88 votes in favour, however not enough for required two-thirds of majority.

The source further reportedly said that ‘In the absence of the all elements of our approach not being covered in the final text of the resolution, we abstained in the vote on its adoption.’

New Delhi attributed its decision to its ‘steadfast and consistent position’ on the issue, while unequivocally condemning ‘terror’.

Alongside Yojna Patel, India's Deputy Permanent Representative, called for the ‘immediate and unconditional release’ of the hostages.

‘This humanitarian crisis needs to be addressed. We welcome the international community's de-escalation efforts and delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. India too has contributed to this effort,’ she was quoted as saying.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the October 7 Hamas attack a "terrorist" action while expressing support for Israel without mentioning Palestine.