india-s-abstention-from-un-gaza-resolution-is-pragmatic

 

India recently abstained from a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly seeking ceasefire in Gaza. It was the fourth UN resolution in the last three years, after Israel launched retaliatory attacks following the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, on its territory. It is for the first time that India abstained from such a resolution, which was critical of Israel. Just six months ago in December 2024, India had voted for a similar resolution calling for an end to the war in Gaza.

 

The change in India’s stand is understandable. Israel was probably the only prominent country that extended unambiguous support to India in its fight against terrorism and also during the brief ‘Operation Sindoor’. Besides, India has entered into a significant and strategic defence and intelligence collaboration with Israel. That explains India’s change of stand on the matter within six months.

 

Israel has been completely isolated on the global stage over its war in Gaza, which it launched in retaliation to the brutal terror attack by the Hamas terrorists in its territory on October 7, 2023, when about 1200 people were killed and a few hundred were taken hostage. The visuals were heart- wrenching, such was the brutality of the attack on innocent Israelis by Hamas.

 

Israel is understandably retaliating in the same measure with the same vengeance. Israel apparently wants to take complete control of the strip, from where the terror attacks were planned and executed, as a precaution and pre-emption against any such attacks in future.

Israel’s continuous retaliation has definitely led to a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip. An estimated 55,000 people, including children and women, have died in Israeli retaliatory attacks so far. Besides, there has been starvation also, as Israel has not been allowing free flow of food into the Gaza strip. Israel believes that it is justified in inflicting such vengeance for what happened on October 7, 2023.

 

Even traditional western supporters of Israel like the United Kingdom and France have been critical of Israel’s continuous retaliation. Israel has obviously reserved the decision on ending the war with itself, and it will only happen when it is sure that nothing like the October 2023 incident happens again.

 

Israel, like India, has been a victim of terrorism. It is quite natural for India to understand Israel’s concerns. October 2023 Hamas terror attack refreshed many harsh memories in India, as how Pakistan-sponsored terrorists unleashed violence in different parts of the country. The 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, before that the Parliament terror attack and now in April this year the Pahalgam terror attack were no different from the Hamas terror attack.

It is quite natural for the two countries, India and Israel, to feel empathy for each other. India’s stand, however, has always been balanced and pragmatic. India has recognised Palestine as an independent country and is a strong supporter of the “two-state” policy. There is no change in India’s traditional stance on the issue.

At the same time, no other country can understand Israel’s plight better than India when it comes to fighting extremist and radical terror. India, like Israel, has been continuously targeted by various terror groups, based in Pakistan. And the terror in both the countries is instigated by a similar ideology.

So when India took a neutral and not a pro-Israel position, there was nothing wrong in it. Rather it was absolutely justified to do so. At least India did not oppose the resolution like the United States and Israel. It did address the concern regarding the humanitarian crisis that has engulfed Gaza, but at the same time it has raised the issue of terrorism also. No country in the world, which has faced a terror attack like the one in Pahalgam, can think of opposing Israel on the issue of dealing with the perpetrators of terror.

Interestingly, the Congress has opposed the government stand on abstention in the UN General assembly. Party leaders from Mallikarjun Kharge to KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and Priyanka Gandhi came out with a barrage of statements condemning India’s abstention.

This is quite strange particularly when India does not have a more sincere and well-meaning friend than Israel, with shared concerns and goals of dealing with terror.

Priyanka Gandhi wrote on ‘X’ “It is shameful and disappointing that our government has chosen to abstain on the UN motion for the protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations in Gaza. This is a tragic reversal of our anti-colonial legacy. In fact, not only are we standing silent as Mr Netanyahu annihilates an entire nation, we are cheering on as his government attacks Iran and assassinates its leadership in flagrant violation of its sovereignty and complete contravention of all international norms,” she added.

Jairam Ramesh accused Modi of appeasing Netanyahu. “Mr. Narendra Modi goes out of his way to appease his close friend Benjamin Netanyahu, who has spearheaded genocide in Gaza and launched an air war on Iran to effect regime change”.

It is strange and surprising that Congress has adopted such a hostile stance towards Israel, knowing well how it stood by India during recent hostilities with Pakistan.

But then the Congress has its own “domestic electoral compulsions in Bihar and Kerala”. While it is accusing Modi of appeasing Netanyahu, it is actually doing the same thing towards a section of people back home, purely for partisan purposes at the cost of national interest.