India Urges Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Amid Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
Call for Ceasefire in Gaza
On Wednesday, India advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza, asserting that temporary pauses in hostilities are insufficient to tackle the severe challenges faced by the local population amidst Israel's military actions.
During a United Nations Security Council discussion, Parvathaneni Harish, India's permanent representative, emphasized the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where residents are suffering from critical shortages of food, fuel, medical services, and educational access.
Harish stressed the importance of delivering humanitarian aid safely and consistently, stating that peace is essential. He called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages, reiterating that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable solutions.
Israel's military operations in Gaza commenced in October 2023 following an attack by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals in southern Israel. Since then, Israel has conducted extensive air and ground assaults, leading to over 61,000 fatalities.
Additionally, Israel has imposed a strict blockade on humanitarian assistance, pushing the population to the brink of famine, according to UN officials.
Harish also highlighted the alarming state of health and education in Gaza, referencing World Health Organization data indicating that approximately 95% of hospitals in the area have been damaged or destroyed.
Reports from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reveal that over 650,000 children have been out of school for more than 20 months.
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PR @AmbHarishP delivered 🇮🇳’s statement at the @UN Security Council Quarterly Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/T7NNvIXzqk
Harish reaffirmed India's steadfast support for the Palestinian cause and expressed optimism that an upcoming UN conference on the Israel-Palestine conflict would yield tangible progress towards a two-state solution.
This conference is set to take place from July 28 to July 30.
India has consistently advocated for a two-state solution that establishes a sovereign and independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, coexisting peacefully.
These comments from Harish follow India's abstention from a UN General Assembly vote on June 12, where 19 other nations also refrained from supporting a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
A total of 149 countries endorsed the non-binding resolution demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, while Israel and the United States were among the 12 nations that opposed it.
The resolution reiterated calls for the unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
It condemned the use of starvation and denial of aid as warfare tactics and demanded that Israel lift the blockade on Gaza and allow aid deliveries through all border crossings.
In December 2023, India was one of 153 countries that supported a UN General Assembly resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. In July 2024, India reiterated its demand for an immediate ceasefire at the UN.
Currently, ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are ongoing in Qatar, although previous attempts to restore a brief ceasefire that began in January have faltered due to significant disagreements.