Why in news?

• The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas and demanding aid access to Gaza.
• A total of 120 countries voted in favour of the resolution, 14 countries voted against including Israel and the United States, while 45 others, including India, abstained.
• India’s abstention in the vote exemplified the balancing act it has adopted on the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

What’s in today’s article?

• Broad takeaways from the proceedings at the UNGA
• Main elements of the Indian statement at the UNGA

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

• It was established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations and is headquartered in New York City.
• It is one of the six principal organs of the UN and serves as the main policy-making organ of the Organization.
• It provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations.
• Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.

Special sessions of UNGA

• The United Nations Charter (Chapter IV, article 20) provides for the General Assembly to meet in special sessions as occasion may require.
• Special sessions are convened by the Secretary-General at the request of the Security Council or of a majority of the Members of the United Nations.

Emergency special sessions of UNGA

• An emergency special session of the UN is an unscheduled meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to make urgent recommendations on a particular issue.
• If the General Assembly is not in the session, the UN Charter allows it to meet in emergency special session within twenty-four hours of the request therefor.
• The procedure to call an emergency special session are laid out in the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly.
  • Emergency special session is called if requested by the Security Council on the vote of any seven members, or by a majority of the Members of the UN.
• So far, only 11 such emergency session of the General Assembly have been held since 1950.

Implications of resolutions passed by the special emergency sessions

• These resolutions are not legally-binding. These are symbolic of the world opinion on the crisis and carry political weight as they represent the will of the entire UN membership.

News Summary: UN General Assembly adopts Gaza resolution

• The 193 members of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) met in a resumed 10th Emergency Special Session.
  • The 10^thEmergency Special Session is related to Israeli-Palestine conflict. It was first held in April 1997.
  • The current session resumed the 10th Emergency Special Session.
• They voted on the draft resolution submitted by Jordan and co-sponsored by more than 40 nations.

Broad takeaways from the proceedings at the UNGA

• The resolution
  • The resolution titled "Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations" was adopted with 120 nations voting in its favour.
  • India joined Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom in the group of 45 countries that abstained on the resolution.
  • Israel and the United States, were among the 14 members who voted against the resolution.
• Attempt to fix the responsibility of Hamas
  • The amendment proposed by Canada and co-sponsored by the US, sought to fix the responsibility of Hamas in the crisis.
  • The amendment explicitly condemned Hamas for its October 7 terrorist attack on Israel and demanded the immediate release of hostages seized by the group.
  • India went with the majority (87) on this vote, while 55 member states voted against it, and 23 abstained.
  • However, this amendment could not be adopted.
• Resolution not binding
  • Unlike resolutions of the UN Security Council, resolutions of the UNGA are not legally binding.
    • It only carries incredible weight and moral authority.
  • Therefore, despite the comprehensive defeat, Israel and the US are not obliged to act on the resolution.
• Balanced position taken by India
  • The balanced position taken by India was in line with the one that it has maintained in the other ongoing conflict in the world: the Russia-Ukraine war.
  • The diplomatic toolkit of hedging and balancing between the warring sides has been a consistent feature of New Delhi’s approach.

Main elements of the Indian statement at the UNGA

• It condemned violence, especially the October 7 attacks by Hamas, conveying its support for Israel.
• It then balanced out its support with a statement on the plight of the people of Gaza.
  • It welcomed the international community’s de-escalation efforts and delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.
  • India too has contributed to this effort.
• India expressed concern at the security situation and urged all parties — which would include both Israel and its rival Iran, as well as groups like Hezbollah — to exercise restraint and responsibility.
• New Delhi reiterated its principled position on the Israel-Palestinian issue.
  • India has always supported a negotiated Two-State solution to the Israel-Palestine issue.
  • India believes in establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side-by-side in peace with Israel.
• India counselled diplomacy and dialogue.
  • India urged the parties to de-escalate, eschew violence and work towards creating conditions for an early resumption of direct peace negotiations.