India abstains on Gaza ceasefire resolution in UNGA, just six months after voting for a similar resolution

India abstains from UN resolution on Gaza ceasefire, signaling shift in policy towards Israel, amid upcoming French-Saudi conference.

 India abstained from a UN General Assembly resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza for the fourth time in three years, indicating a growing trend in the Modi government’s policy not to vote on statements critical of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, in which 55,000 have been killed.India had voted in favour of a UNGA resolution for ceasefire in December 2024, making this a significant departure from India’s position just six months ago.

India’s vote came in even as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is in Paris for bilateral talks with French Foreign Minister Barrot, who is expected to request a high-level participation from India for a UN conference on creating conditions for a “Two-State solution”, that France is organising jointly with Saudi Arabia. Diplomatic sources for both countries said they have not so far heard about India’s participation at the conference dated June 17-20, or well India would be represented by the Permanent Mission of India in New York. The MEA did not comment on the issue.

According to a leaked demarch reported by U.S. media, the Trump administration has “warned” partner countries not to join the conference or to make pledges for the recognition of Palestine. India recognised Palestine in 1988, and is among 147 of 193 UNGA countries that have already recognised the Palestinian state. 

The resolution at the UNGA on Thursday evening was introduced by Spain, and applause broke out in the assembly as it was passed with more than 4/5ths of all countries voting for it.  India was one of 19 abstentions on the vote along with Albania, Dominica, Ecuador, Kiribati, Malawi and other countries, while 149 of 180 countries voted for the resolution entitled “Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations”. The United States voted with Israel and ten other countries against the resolution. India was the only country in South Asia, BRICS or the SCO groupings to abstain. 

Explaining the vote, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Paravathaneni Harish said that India was “deeply concerned” about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but that it decided to abstain “in continuation” of previous votes in December 2022 criticising Israel for Human Rights violations and in December 2024 that referred the Israeli bombardment of Gaza to the International Court of Justice. India had also abstained in vote calling for a ceasefire in October 2023 and two other resolutions pertaining to human rights investigations in 2023-2024. 

“Our vote today is in continuation of [these votes], in the belief that there is no other way to resolve conflicts but through dialogue and diplomacy. Our joint effort should be directed towards bringing the two sides closer,” Mr. Harish said, calling for an early resumption of “direct peace negotiations” between Israel and Palestine. The single exception in the recent past, was on December 13, 2024, when India joined 158 countries at the UNGA that demanded an immediate ceasefire at the time.

The resolution passed at the UNGA had called on Israel and Hamas to comply with international law obligations, and an “immediate and permanent facilitation of full, rapid, safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian assistance at scale in Gaza, including food and medical supplies, fuel, shelter and access to clean drinking water”.