India has voted in favour of a resolution at the United Nations that condemned the Israeli settlements in Palestine. The resolution, “Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan” condemning Israeli settlement activities in the region was approved on Thursday.
India was among the 145 nations that supported the resolution while seven countries opposed it including Canada, Hungary, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, and the United States while 18 countries abstained from voting.
Very strong vote in the 🇺🇳 General Assembly yesterday against 🇮🇱 illegal settlements on occupied 🇵🇸 territories. In effect only 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 🇨🇦 🇭🇺 against the resolution – difficult to see how they can combine this with a genuine commitment to a two state 🇮🇱 🇵🇸 solution. pic.twitter.com/FtMk18HiUt
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) November 11, 2023
By a recorded vote of 145 in favour to 7 against (Canada, Hungary, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, United States) with 18 abstentions, the Committee approved the draft resolution titled “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan”, said the UN in a press release.
“By its terms, the Assembly would condemn settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan and any activities involving the confiscation of land, the disruption of the livelihood of protected persons, the forced transfer of civilians and the annexation of land, whether de facto or through national legislation,” it added.
The development comes after New Delhi had abstained from voting last month in a resolution at the UN that called for an immediate humanitarian truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict leading to a cessation of hostilities. The resolution also called for unhindered humanitarian access in the Gaza strip.
The resolution titled “Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations” was overwhelmingly adopted with 120 nations voting in its favour, 14 against it and 45 abstaining.