India has voiced hope that Palestine’s bid to become a full member of the United Nations, which was blocked by the US last month, will be reconsidered and its endeavor to become a member of the world organization will get endorsed.
The US vetoed a resolution in the UN Security Council on a Palestinian bid to be granted full membership of the United Nations last month. The 15-nation Council had voted on a draft resolution that would have recommended to the 193-member UN General Assembly that the State of Palestine be admitted to membership in the United Nations.
The resolution got 12 votes in its favor, with Switzerland and the UK abstaining and the US casting its veto. To be adopted, the draft resolution required at least nine Council members voting in its favor, with no vetoes by any of its five permanent members China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj stated, “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 endeavor to become a member of the United Nations will get endorsed.”
India has a history of supporting Palestine, being the first non-Arab state to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1974. India was also one of the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine in 1988. Currently, Palestine holds a non-member observer state status at the UN, granted in 2012.
India reiterated its commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, emphasizing the need for direct negotiations between the two parties. India also condemned the ongoing conflict in Gaza and called for immediate humanitarian aid to prevent further deterioration of the situation. India has provided humanitarian aid to Palestine and pledged to continue its support.