On October 27, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. 120 countries of the United Nations voted in favour of the resolution, while 14 voted against it. 45 countries abstained.
Speaking before the vote, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that voting against the resolution “means approving this senseless war, this senseless killing”. The US and Israel were amongst those who voted against the resolution.
The resolution calls for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities”. It “firmly rejects any attempts at the forced transfer of the Palestinian civilian population”. It demands increased humanitarian aid for Gaza. The General Assembly voted after the UN Security Council failed to take any action for over two weeks. The US had used its veto powers in the Security Council to ensure that Israel carries on its war against the Palestinian people.
The resolution of the United Nations General Assembly is non-binding. However it shows that world public opinion stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people who are victims of a genocidal war launched by Israel, with the full political and military backing of the US.
It is shocking that the government of India abstained in the vote. By abstaining, the Indian government has in effect supported the genocidal war launched by Israel against the Palestinian people in Gaza. This is contrary to the sentiments of the masses of Indian people, who want an immediate end to this war. The people of India have always stood shoulder to shoulder with the oppressed Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation of their homeland from the Israeli occupation forces.
The government of India must come out unequivocally in favor of an immediate unconditional ceasefire. It must support the demand of the majority of member states of the UN that Israel must withdraw from occupied Palestinian territories to its pre-1967 borders, and the Palestinian people must have their own state, with East Jerusalem as its capital. This is the necessary condition for a lasting solution to the conflict.