Israel-Hamas war: India calls ‘large-scale civilian deaths’ unacceptable

United Nations: Reiterating its zero tolerance for terrorism, India on Tuesday said widespread deaths of civilians caught up in the Hamas-Israel conflict are “categorically unacceptable”, and called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve it. “There can be no justification for terrorism and hostage-taking,” India’s Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj told the UN General Assembly. “India’s approach towards terrorism is of zero-tolerance,” he said. “Our thoughts are with those who have been taken hostage and we demand their immediate and unconditional release,” he said. Kamboj was speaking at a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. This meeting was called under the resolution in which the permanent members who use the veto in the Security Council are required to explain their actions. Unlike other delegates, she did not come to the stage for her address. Instead he expressed his views from the seat of India. Following a good diplomatic stance in the Hamas–Israel conflict, he did not name any of them when speaking about its damage, but emphasized his opposition to terrorism, which Hamas has been accused of. “The conflict has resulted in massive loss of civilian lives, especially women and children, and has resulted in a dangerous humanitarian crisis,” he said. “This is clearly unacceptable, and we strongly condemn the deaths of civilians.” Reaffirming India’s unwavering support for the two-state solution, he said, “Peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy is the only way forward.” India views Palestine and Israel as independent nations living together at peace. Kamboj advocated continued humanitarian assistance “to the affected populations.” He said India has so far provided 70 tonnes of humanitarian assistance, including 16.5 tonnes of medicines and medical supplies and $5 million to the people of Palestine. Half of it was given in December to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which works among Palestinians. The meeting followed the US veto of Russia’s proposed amendment to the Security Council resolution on Gaza last month. Although Russia’s amendment calling for a “suspension of hostilities” was vetoed last month, a resolution calling instead for steps “to create conditions for a permanent cessation of hostilities” passed 13 votes in the 15-member Security Council. Passed by 10 votes, with the US and Russia abstaining. The United States has joined Israel in opposing calls for a ceasefire or even a temporary ceasefire. Many countries opposed the veto privilege of the five permanent members of the Security Council. Kenya’s representative said “the veto is one of the world’s greatest anti-democratic symbols” and is “a persistent claim of impunity before international law”. He said African nations are in favor of eliminating the veto or giving this right to all the permanent members involved in the revised Security Council. The representative of Mexico advocated the initiative taken by his country and France for permanent members to voluntarily limit the use of the veto in situations of mass atrocities. Speaking earlier on Tuesday, representatives of Israel and Palestine traded accusations about the scale of the atrocities, while the US defended its veto.