India calls for immediate reduction of tension in Gaza and stop violence

United Nations (Uttam Hindu News): India has called for immediate de-escalation and cessation of violence in Gaza. India’s Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj said in the UN General Assembly on Monday that there should be immediate reduction of tension in the area and violence should be avoided. He also called for “the release of all hostages, the avoidance of provocative and de-escalating actions, and the early resumption of peace talks.”

Kamboj said, India has always opposed terrorism in all its forms. He said, “It is necessary to stop the violence from increasing further and the deaths occurring there. International law must be respected in all circumstances.” According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 30 thousand people have been killed in the conflict so far, most of them children and women. Kamboj warned about the dangers of an escalation of the Gaza conflict.

“The humanitarian crisis has deepened and the region is moving towards instability,” he said. The conflict is also being echoed in the Red Sea, where the Houthis have attacked ships and retaliated by other countries. There has been a clash between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in Lebanon. UN officials have warned of imminent danger of famine in Gaza, where relief supplies have been limited.

Kamboj said, “India has provided humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine and will continue to do so.” “It is essential that humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza be immediately increased to prevent the situation from worsening,” he said. Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly, said it was extremely regrettable that the organization had to raise the issue of the Security Council veto in the context of Gaza. He called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of the hostages. “Every death caused by war is a stain on our collective conscience,” he said.

US Deputy Permanent Representative Robert Wood defended Algeria’s veto of the resolution, saying it could disrupt ongoing efforts for a ceasefire. It is noteworthy that 13 members of the 15-member Security Council had voted in favor of the resolution. The US vetoed and Britain abstained. On Sunday, US Vice President Kamala Harris called for an immediate ceasefire. “There should be an immediate ceasefire for at least six weeks,” he said.

Earlier in the General Assembly, Palestine’s Permanent Observer Riyad Mansour accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon, while showing a photo of a child dying of hunger. “Israel is carrying out unbridled atrocities against the Palestinian people,” he said. Israel’s Permanent Representative Gilad Erdan launched a scathing attack on the United Nations, calling it an ally of Hamas. He said that the United Nations has not condemned Hamas for the terrorist attack on Israel. Erdan also showed a video of women being abused during Hamas attacks on Israel.

He said the ceasefire would give Hamas the green light to continue abusing women. Later at a press conference, UN Special Representative Permilla Patten said her visit to Israel and the West Bank revealed that women were subjected to sexual violence during the attack on October 7 last year. But it cannot be established that Hamas itself was involved in incidents of sexual assault.