India’s Abstention in UNGA Vote on Gaza Conflict Resolution, Explained

India's Abstention in UNGA Vote on Gaza Conflict Resolution, Explained

Akif Wani | November 5, 2023 | 11:39 AM IST | India, World | Follow on Google News

India’s Abstention in UNGA Vote on Gaza Conflict Resolution, Explained

India’s Abstention in UNGA Vote on Gaza Conflict Resolution

In a significant move, India abstained from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) vote on a resolution concerning the ongoing Gaza conflict. The vote took place on October 26, with 120 member countries supporting the resolution, 14 opposing it, and 45, including India, abstaining. This decision has raised questions and discussions regarding India’s stance on this issue.

Why India Abstained?

India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, clarified that the abstention aligns with India’s long-standing position against terrorism, citing India’s own experiences as victims of terrorism. The key concern for India was the UNGA resolution’s lack of explicit condemnation of the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas, in which 1,405 Israelis were killed and 240 were taken hostage. While the resolution did condemn violence against both Israeli and Palestinian civilians, including terrorism, it did not specifically mention Hamas. India supported an amendment authored by Canada for more explicit references, which was not passed by the UNGA. Furthermore, India has not designated Hamas as a terrorist group, a demand made by the Israeli Ambassador to India.

A Shift in India’s Voting Record

India’s vote on the UNGA resolution represents a notable departure from its historical voting record at the United Nations. Historically, India opposed the partition of Palestine and was one of the first non-Arab countries to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the representative of the Palestinian people and to recognize Palestine as a separate state in 1988. India consistently voted against Israel in the past.

However, the 1990s marked a shift, especially after establishing full diplomatic relations with Israel. India started abstaining from or even voting against UN resolutions critical of Israel. In recent years, this shift became more pronounced, with India increasingly abstaining or voting against resolutions that involved international inquiries. However, India continued to support Palestine on issues related to their rights and Israeli bombardment.

This shift in India’s stance was further highlighted by comparing its vote on the recent UNGA resolution with its vote in 2018. In 2018, India voted in favor of a resolution that deplored Israeli forces’ actions against Palestinian civilians, while in the recent vote, India chose to abstain, even with a significantly higher casualty count.

What Does India’s Stand Signify?

Israel welcomed India’s abstention, appreciating the support, although it had hoped for India to vote against the resolution, as some of its allies did. Notably, other countries that abstained included India’s Quad partners, Australia and South Korea, as well as NATO members like Canada and some European nations. On the other hand, a significant majority of 120 countries, including India’s South Asian neighbors, BRICS countries, and most of the Arab world, supported the resolution.

India’s abstention has generated discussions about whether it signifies a decisive shift in favor of Israel for future votes or if it reflects India’s desire to balance its relationships with conflicting sides in an increasingly polarized global landscape. Over the past decade, India has consistently abstained from various resolutions, including those related to Russia’s operations in Ukraine, the Syrian ceasefire, and condemnations of the Myanmar military junta. This approach could be seen as a way to maintain a “tightrope balance” between different sides with which India has close ties.

In conclusion, India’s abstention in the UNGA vote on the Gaza conflict resolution indicates a significant shift in its stance, sparking debates about the country’s evolving foreign policy and the dynamics of its global relationships.

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Akif Wani