India votes in favour of UN resolution backing Palestine two-state solution

India has voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of a two-state solution.

The resolution, introduced by France, was adopted with overwhelming support. A total of 142 countries voted in favour, while 10 -- including Israel, the United States, Argentina, and Hungary—opposed it. Twelve nations abstained.

India’s vote in favour comes in the wake of an Israeli strike against Hamas in Qatar, as well as the severe bombardment of Gaza, where more than 60,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023.

India’s position on Palestine at the United Nations has varied over the past two years, alternating between support and abstention. Since 2023, India has voted in favour of Palestine-related resolutions three times and abstained three times.

According to an official Ministry of External Affairs annexure of UNGA voting patterns from 2019 to 2024, the New Delhi voted in favour of 54 resolutions and abstained on 8. These include long-standing texts on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, sovereignty over natural resources in occupied territories, and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

The abstentions were largely reserved for more contentious resolutions, such as emergency-session truce texts in 2023 and advisory-opinion requests in 2024.

Among the “Yes” votes were: October 2023, on a Canadian amendment condemning Hamas, December 2023, on an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, and May 2024, backing enhanced participation for Palestine in the UN system.

The last three abstentions include: October 2023, on a UNGA Emergency Special Session resolution calling for a ceasefire, its reasoning was (implicitly) linked to the failed amendment to condemn Hamas, September 2024, on a resolution demanding Israel’s withdrawal from Palestine and the latest one in June this year.

Notably, the New York Declaration is the outcome of an international conference held in July at UN Headquarters, organised by France and Saudi Arabia. It urges Israel to make a public commitment to the two-state framework, stressing that its implementation is essential for a just and durable peace.

French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont described the declaration as “a single roadmap to deliver the two-state solution”.

This calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, the establishment of a viable Palestinian state, disarmament of Hamas, normalisation between Israel and Arab countries, and collective security guarantees.

However, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, rejected the declaration, calling it “a hollow gesture” that rewards Hamas and undermines the Assembly’s credibility.

Israel’s offensive against Hamas began after October 7, 2023, when the latter fired thousands of rockets and sent fighters—through land, air and sea—into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip during a major Jewish holiday (Simchat Torah) in a deadly offensive branded “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken back to Gaza as captives.

Since then Israel has been attacking Hamas with a massive bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians say civilians are paying the price in strikes on Gaza, a small coastal strip of land (140 square miles) packed with 2.3 million residents, which has been blockaded for more than 15 years. The war has already claimed over 66,700 lives (64,739 Palestinians and 1,983 Israelis).

Notably, an agreement for the release of hostages and ceasefire in Gaza was announced on January 15 this year which came into effect on January 19.

The agreement included three phases of 42 days each for exchange of hostages and prisoners from both sides.

However, two months later in March, Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Gaza, breaking the ceasefire with Hamas. Netanyahu’s office stated that the strikes were carried out in response to Hamas’s refusal to release hostages and its rejection of proposals to extend the cease-fire.

The war has further intensified since the breaking of ceasefire agreement early this year. Most recently in a major escalation, Israel conducted airstrikes in Doha, marking a dramatic expansion of its military campaign against Hamas beyond the Gaza Strip, where negotiations over a ceasefire remain stalled. Israel stated the operation aimed to eliminate Hamas’ political leadership.

India condemned this attack and stressed that New Delhi supports the resolution of issues through dialogue and diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and conveyed India’s deep concern over the Israeli strikes in Doha.

“We support resolution of issues through dialogue and diplomacy, and avoiding escalation. India stands firmly in support of peace and stability in the region, and against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” PM Modi had said.