UNSC debate on Israel-Hamas war: India highlights maritime threats

Washington: India has expressed concerns about the impact of widening of West Asia conflict between Israel and Hamas, on the maritime commercial traffic in the vicinity of India in the Indian Ocean.

R Ravindra, Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations said in his remarks during a UNSC Open Debate on the Middle East that "the ongoing conflict is also impacting the safety of maritime commercial traffic in the Indian Ocean, including some attacks in the vicinity of India", reported PTI.

“This is a matter of great concern to the international community and has a direct bearing on India's own energy and economic interests. This fraught situation is not to the benefit of any party, and this must be clearly recognised,” Ravindra said.

The concerns expressed by the Indian envoy come in the wake of signs of escalation in the attacks on ships in the Red Sea, and the resultant reduction of cargo voyage through the Suez Canal thereby increasing shipping and insurance costs, and in some cases even forcing shipping liners to re-route traffic to the round-about channel via the southern tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope.

Revindra highlighted the humanitarian role India has played to help the Palestinian people in Gaza. We have also provided USD 5 million, including the USD 2.5 million we provided in end December, to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which will go to support the Agency's core programmes and services".

The Indian envoy also reiterated India's support to the two-state solution whereby Palestinians could live as an independent country within safe borders and Israel had its right to exist as a state.

In her speech, Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights of the United States, called on Israeli leaders to take feasible precautions to minimise civilian harm in line with international law.

She also spoke accusing Hamas of unleashing the conflict and condemned attacks in the wider region by Iran and its proxies. Emphasising that the only guarantor of peace is a Two-State solution — with Israel's security guaranteed — she called for a strong Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza, even if this was “difficult to imagine”.

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres told the Security Council that any refusal to accept the two-State solution by any party must be firmly rejected stressing that Israel's recent rejection of the same is unacceptable.

The denial of the right to Statehood would indefinitely prolong the conflict, and a One-State solution — huge Palestinian populations inside that State without any real sense of freedom, rights and dignity — would be inconceivable. The only way to address the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians is through the Two-State formula, he underscored.

Riyad Al-Maliki, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, said that Israeli leaders “do not see our people as an empirical and political reality to coexist with, but as a demographic threat to get rid of through death, displacement or subjugation”.

On the other part, the Israeli representative, urged the council to shift its focus towards addressing the 'real, significant security threats in the Middle East', which is suffering from Hamas, calling it the 'cancer' of the region. In response to the implied charge about the role of Israel's genocidal actions is playing within the Palestinian region, the envoy accused Hamas of exploiting international aid to turn Gaza into “a war machine”, as well as the “genocidal goals of annihilating Israel”. He raised the customary demand of Israel not to let Hamas remain in power.

Stéphane Séjourné, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Council President for January, speaking in his national capacity said that the Council has two possible options. The first is division, argument and fanning the flames — the choice of those who invade their neighbour.

His choice, however, would be the second option — to stand alongside both Israelis and Palestinians, for peace and the good of both, which entails difficult things for both sides.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blamed the US for being the impediment before the Council giving an appropriate response to the situation. He called for an world order based not on Anglo-Saxon rules but on international law.