India on Tuesday threw its weight behind the inclusion of Palestine in the United Nations (UN) and cast its ballot in favor of the resolution during the 10th emergency session of the UN General Assembly on Palestine.

Addressing the special session of the UN General Assembly on Palestine, India’s permanent representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, remarked, “The ongoing conflict in Gaza spanning over seven months has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with the potential for destabilizing repercussions in the region and beyond. In this context, we perceive the adoption of resolution 2728 by the UNSC as a constructive move.”

She continued, “India’s stance on the conflict has been unequivocally enunciated on multiple occasions by our leadership. Firstly, the protracted conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant civilian casualties, particularly among women and children. The resultant humanitarian crisis is utterly unacceptable.”

Kamboj reiterated India’s strong condemnation of civilian casualties in the conflict, stressing the imperative of respecting international law and humanitarian principles under all circumstances.

She highlighted the appalling nature of the terror attacks in Israel on 7 October, emphasizing the unequivocal denunciation they warrant. “There can be no justification for terrorism and hostage-taking. India maintains a steadfast and resolute stance against terrorism in all its guises, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” Kamboj added.

Drawing attention to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, she underscored the urgent need to escalate humanitarian aid to the Gazan populace to forestall further deterioration.

India called upon all stakeholders to unite in this endeavor. “We commend the endeavors of the UN and the global community in this regard. India has extended humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people and remains committed to doing so. We take note of the recent enhancement in the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza by the Israeli authorities,” she remarked.

She emphasized that a Two-State solution, achieved through direct and meaningful negotiations between both parties on final status issues, remains the key to achieving lasting peace.

“India is steadfast in its support for a Two-State solution, whereby the Palestinian people can reside freely in an independent nation within secure borders, with due consideration for Israel’s security imperatives. To attain a sustainable resolution, we call upon all stakeholders to foster conducive conditions for the prompt resumption of direct peace negotiations,” the senior Indian envoy stated.

“In adherence to our long-standing stance, we endorse the inclusion of Palestine in the UN and henceforth voted in favor of this Resolution. We trust that the Security Council will reconsider Palestine’s application in due course, and endorse Palestine’s aspiration to attain UN membership,” Kamboj concluded.