The third meeting of the United Nations Security Council was held on Sunday discussing the ongoing Israel- Palestine issue.
The United Nations- Security General Antonio Gutteres putting his views in the meet said “The current hostilities are totally appalling, this latest round of violence only perpetuates the death, destruction, and despair and pushes further to the horizon any hopes of coexistence and peace.” He further said, “Fighting must stop and it must stop immediately.”
During the meet, the UN openly underscored, the ceasefire between the two Nations.
India a non-permanent member of the United Nations in the UNSC meeting put out its views on the Israel-Palestine issue, making a stand for Palestine with even condemning the attack of the militant group Hamas from Gaza to the Israeli borders resulting in the killing of many people.
As per the reports over 215 Palestinians were hurt during the tussle which happened in the compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque considered to be Islamist’s third holiest place. The recent burst broke down with the fact that over 70 Palestinians were forced to be evicted from the Shiekh Jarrah area to be replaced by the Jewish Israelis. Notably, the land Palestinians lived on was ruled by courts to be under the ownership of Jewish religious associations before Israel’s establishment in 1948.
- S Tirumurti a permanent Representative of India at UN, put forward the take of India. As the diplomatic relation of India with both Israel and Palestine is very strong, India chose to take a mid-path wherein the meet even showing clear support for Palestine, it condemned the attacks of Gaza on Israel.
T.S Tirumurti went on saying “We urge both sides to show extreme restraint, desist from actions that exacerbate tensions, and refrain from attempts to unilaterally change the existing status quo, including in East Jerusalem and its neighborhood.”
India also paid homage to her national residing in Israel, Ms. Somya Santosh who was killed in an attack by the Palestinian militant group; Hamas. The Indian Representative also mourned the death of all other Israeli civilians who were killed in the attack. Ms. Somya was a caregiver in Ashkelon in Israel and her mortals were brought back to her native in Kerala on Saturday.
In the meeting, India showed deep concerns over the issue of Jerusalem, took its stand for the eviction process done in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhood in East Jerusalem. It condemned the attacks on Haram AI Sharif/ Temple Mount during the holy month of Ramzan. “We had also expressed our apprehension at the spread of violence to other parts of West Bank and Gaza,” said Tirumurti.
“The indiscriminate rocket firings by Gaza targeting civilian population in Israel which we condemn and the retaliatory strikes into Gaza have caused immense suffering and resulted in deaths,” said Tirumurti while taking a mid-way to the current scenario of the tussle between the two states. He further asserted “We reiterate our strong condemnation of all acts of violence, provocation, incitement, and destruction.”
On speaking about the restoration of Indian Hospice, he said “Jerusalem has a special place in the hearts of millions of Indians who visit the city every year. It also houses the Al- Zawiyya Al Hindiyya. The Indian hospice is a historic place associated with the great Indian Sufi saint Baba Farid and located inside the old city.”
India supported the diplomatic efforts of the Quartet and asked them to calm the situation to ensure peace in the two states. It emphasized the immediate presumptuous dialogue between Israel and Palestine.
“The absence of direct and meaningful negotiations between the parties is widening the trust deficit between the parties.” Tirumurti asserted.
Painting grey shade on canvas this time, India chose to take a midway as it shares special and loyal bilateral relations with both Israel and Palestine. When in the past the nation of tricolor holds goodwill to take a clear and blunt stand with the nations in crisis.
When back in December 2020 the unfortunate news of the beheading of a middle school teacher Samuel Paty for displaying a caricature of Prophet Muhammad was heard, the Islamic radicals and militant groups were on the streets to protest against the teacher and in support of the student who beheaded. The protests were seen across the world then and France went through a crisis then. In those times of crisis, India taking a clear stand with the state of France and its President Emmanuel Macron said “In this context demonstrations in India against France and President Macron are contrary to that international consensus, the government’s position and the excellent bilateral relations between India and France. India stands with France at this difficult moment and fully supports the Government of France on this issue.”
I strongly condemn the recent terrorist attacks in France, including today's heinous attack in Nice inside a church. Our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the people of France. India stands with France in the fight against terrorism.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 29, 2020
Our relations with Afghanistan have been sweet after the Taliban rule ended in Afghanistan. India has always wanted Afghans to stand on their own feet and make their own decisions with Afghanistan becoming a sovereign, peaceful and united Afghanistan. India has supported efforts to bring inclusive peace to Afghanistan by educating leaders of different race to work concurrently with others for peace and nation-building.
In the times when the Tigray crisis is making global headlines as the situation gets worse in Ethiopia. Tigray is a region in the northern part of Ethiopia where conflicts are broken between the Ethiopian government forces and the local Tigray people’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
As India shares a unique friendship with the African subcontinent, the envoy spoke of the relationship between India and Africa to be very profound. Ethiopian envoy Tizita Mulugeta said, “Always Whenever there has been any kind of difficulties, India has been there to support Africa and especially Ethiopia.”
During the fateful incident of 9/11 in the United States of America, when the World Trade Center was been targeted by the Islamic terrorist group Al-Qaeda, India joined wholeheartedly with the United States in its goal for the destruction and defeat of the global terror network.
Putting a view, the then P.M of India Manmohan Singh said “We fully understand that in resolutely countering the terrorism that attacked the USA on September 11 you are discharging your core responsibility for the interest and security of the people of the United States of America. We are with you and do not wish to overload the agenda in any way. However, incidents of this kind raise questions for our security which, as a democratically elected leader of India, I have to address in our supreme national interest. Pakistan must understand that there is a limit to the patience of the people of India.”
Thus, India has chosen a clear path on various occasions and continues to do so. This time, however, it chose to paint the canvas with shades of grey.
As social media plays a vital role in putting views whether personal or institutional, at the time when the tussle started between the two states of Israel and Palestine, the same tussle was seen among the Indian natives who trended their supports respectively with #IndiaStandsWithIsrael and #IndiaStandsWithPalestine.
With the hashtags, the netizens inclusive of political and business figures took up the call and flaunted their support on the microblogging site. It has been three decades since India recognized the statehood of Palestine but the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi stands first to visit Palestine in 2018. At the same time, India and Israel maintain concentrated ties for years.
The war raging right now is not between Israel and the Palestinian people. It never was. It is a war between right and wrong, between a nation and a terror organisation called Hamas. Don’t let vested interests con you into believing something else.#IndiaStandsWithIsrael
— Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) (@majorgauravarya) May 19, 2021
To deal with the Israel-Palestinian conflict and bring peace in that region. Then we must unleash violence on Hamas and its terrorism. In destroying Hamas lies the solution. Therefore #IStandWithIsrael and @netanyahu Hamas must be exterminated.
— Savio Rodrigues 🇮🇳 (@PrinceArihan) May 16, 2021
Hindu-American rally in support of Israel. #IndiaStandsWithIsrael pic.twitter.com/FYZwmTlf6V
— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) May 17, 2021
India Government stand in United Nations Security Council. #IndiaStandsWithPalestine pic.twitter.com/RTcxe1yBfE
— Prashant Kanojia (@PJkanojia) May 17, 2021
Indian Ambassador to UN speaking at UNSC today came out in support of Palestine..
Good to see India as a county is standing with Palestine..#IndiaStandsWithPalestine #IndiainUNSC pic.twitter.com/91zjv6vygm
— Waris Pathan (@warispathan) May 16, 2021
[author title=”Shreya Gohel” image=”http://localhost/gc2/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210127_014031.jpg”]Intern, Goa Chronicle[/author]
DISCLAIMER: This article reflects author’s view point. Goa Chronicle may or may not subscribe to views of the author
