India on Wednesday said it hoped that Palestine’s application to become a full member of the United Nations would be reconsidered and endorsed.
India also reiterated the position in favour of a “two-state solution where the Palestinian people are able to live freely in an independent country within secure borders, with due regard to the security needs of Israel.”
“While we have noted that Palestine’s application for membership at the United Nations was not approved by the Security Council because of the aforesaid veto, I would like to state here at the very outset that in keeping with India’s long-standing position, we hope that this would be reconsidered in due course and that Palestine’s endeavour to become a member of the United Nations will get endorsed,” said India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj.
Kamboj was speaking at the General Assembly on Wednesday.
Last month, the United States blocked a draft resolution recommending that the United Nations General Assembly hold a vote to allow Palestine to join the international organisation as a full member.
The resolution received 12 votes in favour, while Switzerland and the United Kingdom abstained from voting. To be adopted, the resolution required nine votes in favour and no vetoes from the permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Palestine currently has a “Permanent Observer” status at the United Nations. The designation allows it to speak at United Nations General Assembly meetings, but not to vote on resolutions.
Kamboj also pointed out that the war on Gaza has been ongoing for over six months and has “led to a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and children, and a humanitarian crisis, which is simply unacceptable.”
She said international humanitarian law “must be respected by everyone under all circumstances.”
She also called Palestinian resistance group Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel “shocking” and said it deserved “unequivocal condemnation.”
At least 34,596 Palestinians have been killed and 77,816 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.
