India Abstains from UN Gaza Ceasefire Vote

India has abstained from a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, marking a notable departure from its position just six months earlier.

In December 2024, India voted in favor of a similar ceasefire resolution, but it has now joined 18 other countries in abstaining, while 149 nations supported the motion.

The resolution, titled *Protection of Civilians and Upholding Legal and Humanitarian Obligations, was introduced by Spain and received overwhelming support in the General Assembly.

It called for the immediate and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and urged compliance with international humanitarian law by both Israel and Hamas.

The United States and Israel voted against the resolution, while India remained the sole abstention among BRICS, SCO, and South Asian countries.

India’s decision coincided with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s bilateral visit to Paris, ahead of a high-level UN conference on the two-state solution co-organized by France and Saudi Arabia. India has not confirmed its participation in the June 17–20 summit, which aims to outline concrete steps toward peace between Israel and Palestine.

India’s UN envoy, Paravathaneni Harish, said the abstention was consistent with previous votes in 2022, 2023, and 2024, where India refrained from supporting resolutions directly criticizing Israel. He reiterated India’s stance in favor of diplomacy and direct negotiations, stating that sustainable peace could only be achieved through dialogue.

The resolution follows escalating violence in Gaza, where over 55,000 people have reportedly been killed. Humanitarian agencies have warned of a deepening crisis, and pressure is mounting on global powers to act decisively.

All attention now turns to the upcoming French-Saudi conference, which will include thematic discussions on security, reconstruction, and the viability of a Palestinian state. The conference aims to deliver a roadmap for implementing the two-state solution and reviving stalled peace efforts.