India Backs Palestine’s UN Membership Bid, Two-State Solution, Demands Israeli Hostages Be Freed

India backed the Palestinian bid for United Nations (UN) membership at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday (local time) while calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

India’s permanent representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj said the current phase of the longstanding conflict has gone on for seven months and triggered a humanitarian crisis which has potential for more instability in the region.

India said the large number of deaths due to the conflict is ‘simply unacceptable’.

Kamboj, however, maintained that India has an uncompromising stance on terrorism and demanded that hostages held be released.

“The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and children. The resulting humanitarian crisis is simply unacceptable,” Kamboj said.

“We have strongly condemned the deaths of civilians in the conflict. International law and international humanitarian law must be respected by everyone under all circumstances,” she further added.

Kamboj then reiterated India’s longstanding position which calls for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and membership of Palestine at the UN.

“In keeping with our longstanding position, we support the membership of Palestine at the UN and therefore, we have voted in favour of this Resolution,” she said.

An Indian personnel working with the United Nations was killed in Gaza when the vehicle he was travelling in came under attack in Rafah, making it the “first international” casualty for the organisation since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The individual was a staff member of the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS). While the identity of the victim has not yet been revealed, sources confirmed to PTI he was from India and a former Indian Army personnel.

The Indian personnel killed in Rafah is the “first casualty” among international UN staff in Gaza since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict following the October 7 terror attacks. Another DSS staffer was injured in the incident when their UN vehicle was struck as they travelled to the European Hospital in Rafah.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “was deeply saddened to learn of the death of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS) staff member and injury to another DSS staffer when their UN vehicle was struck as they travelled to the European Hospital in Rafah” Monday morning.

A statement issued by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said that Guterres condemned all attacks on UN personnel and called for a full investigation. Guterres sent his condolences to the family of the fallen staff member.

“With the conflict in Gaza continuing to take a heavy toll – not only on civilians but also on humanitarian workers – the Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the release of all hostages,” the statement added.

In a post on X, Guterres said the UN vehicle was struck in Gaza, “killing one of our colleagues & injuring another.” He said that more than 190 UN staff have been killed in Gaza.

“Humanitarian workers must be protected. I condemn all attacks on UN personnel and reiterate my urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire & the release of all hostages,” he said.

Responding to questions on the incident during the press briefing, Haq said at this point, “We are in the process of informing the relevant governments and the relevant family members, so I wouldn’t share any names or nationalities.” He added that they were “international staff.” Haq confirmed that “this is, in fact, the first international UN casualty.”

While there have been international casualties involving workers for the World Central Kitchen in Gaza, Haq said that “of UN staff, I believe I’ve not been previously aware of an international casualty.” Haq added that the vehicle was headed to the hospital “as part of their regular work, they go to different locations to assess security conditions. And this was the European hospital in Rafah.” When asked for details about how their vehicle was struck, Haq said “This happened fairly recently. We’re still accumulating details.

We expect to get reports, including from the relevant authorities.” He added that close to around 190 UN personnel have been killed in Gaza since October 7, “most of them national staff of the UN Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA.” Haq added that the UN is “going to set up measures for accountability.

A lot of that… requires ultimately for an end to the conflict so that we can work these out, but we will be working with the authorities on the ground to get a restitution for all of those who have been killed.” Haq said he did not have the full details of whether the vehicle that was struck was part of a large convoy. “I believe it was in a convoy that was moving, and this was the DSS vehicle that was hit.” Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X, “We are devastated to learn about the death” of a UN humanitarian worker and injury of another in Gaza.

“We hope that Palestine’s application would be reconsidered by the Security Council in due course, and that Palestine’s endeavour to become a member of the UN will get endorsed. India is committed to supporting a Two-State solution where the Palestinian people are able to live freely in an independent country within secure borders, with due regard to the security needs of Israel,” Kamboj said, reiterating India’s stance on the conflict that has been going on for more than half a century.

“In this context, we view the UNSC’s adoption of resolution 2728 as a positive step. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. It is imperative that humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza be scaled up immediately in order to avert a further deterioration in the situation,” she said.

“There can be no justification for terrorism and hostage taking. India has a longstanding and uncompromising position against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and we demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” she pointed out.

Kamboj outlined that India provided humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine and will continue to do so and said that India has noted that Israeli officials have facilitated greater flow of humanitarian aid into the blockaded, war-ravaged coastal enclave.