India was among 13 countries that abstained as the UN Human Rights Council on Friday adopted a resolution calling for Israel to be held accountable for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The resolution expressed grave concern over reports of serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The Resolution and Its Implications
The resolution, presented by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), was adopted by 28 votes in favor and six against. It called for an arms embargo on Israel and urged all countries to cease the sale and transfer of arms and military equipment to Israel to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.
While not legally binding, the resolution aims to increase diplomatic pressure on Israel and potentially influence national policy decisions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
India’s Stance and Voting Pattern
India’s abstention was in line with its traditional stand on past resolutions concerning the human rights situation in occupied Palestinian territory. However, India voted in favor of three other resolutions endorsing the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, expressing concern over human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan, and denouncing Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.
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International Reactions
The resolution’s adoption came days after the killing of seven international aid workers in an Israeli strike in Gaza, an incident that drew global condemnation. Israel faced unprecedented pressure from the US and opened new food corridors into Gaza, while two senior military commanders responsible for ordering the strike were sacked.
The resolution reflected growing concerns about Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which has resulted in more than 33,000 deaths, and followed a phone call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden, who warned that his administration’s policy on the conflict could change.
Countries that abstained or voted against the resolution noted that it refrained from mentioning Hamas, whose attacks had triggered the conflict. Israel criticized the resolution, accusing the Human Rights Council of abandoning the Israeli people.
The resolution’s adoption highlights the ongoing tensions and complexities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the international community’s efforts to hold parties accountable for potential war crimes and human rights violations.