India votes in favour of UNGA resolution demanding immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza
United Nations(PTI): India has voted in favour of a draft resolution in the UN General Assembly that demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and unconditional release of all hostages.
The 193-member UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted the resolution at an emergency special session on Tuesday, with 153 nations voting in its favour, 10 voting against and 23 abstentions.
India was among the 153 nations that voted in favour of the resolution, adopted amid a round of applause in the GA hall.
Those voting against included Austria, Israel and the US while Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ukraine and the UK were among those who abstained.
The resolution, introduced by Egypt, demanded "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" and reiterated its "demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, notably about the protection of civilians".
It also demanded the "immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access".
The resolution however did not name Hamas. Austria and the US had each moved an amendment to the draft text.
The amendment tabled by Austria called for the insertion of the line "held by Hamas and other groups" after the word "hostages" in the main draft as well as called for ensuring "immediate" humanitarian access.
The amendment tabled by the US called for the insertion, in the main draft, of the paragraph "unequivocally rejects and condemns the attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting October 7 and the taking of hostages".
India voted in favour of both the amendments.
However, the two amendments to the draft resolution could not be adopted since they failed to get the required two-thirds majority of votes.
The Austrian-introduced amendment got 89 votes in favour, 61 against and 20 abstentions while the US-proposed amendment got 84 votes in favour, 62 against and 25 abstentions.
In October, India had abstained in the General Assembly on a resolution that had called for an immediate humanitarian truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict leading to a cessation of hostilities and unhindered humanitarian access in the Gaza strip.
The resolution was adopted with 120 nations voting in favour, 14 against and 45 abstentions.
Along with India, countries that had abstained from the October resolution included Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
The vote in the UNGA came days after the 15-nation Security Council failed to adopt a resolution that would have demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza after the US exercised its veto.
The UNSC resolution, tabled by the United Arab Emirates and backed by over 90 member states, got 13 votes in its favour while the UK abstained.
More than 1,200 people were killed, including 33 children, and thousands injured in the attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on October 7.
Since the start of Israel's military operation, the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza said at least 18,205 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, about 70 per cent women and children, and about 49,645 are reportedly injured, according to estimates by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
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Two of family killed after car crashes into roadside tree in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Two people of a family died while four others were seriously injured after their car crashed into a tree on the outskirts of the city, police said on Friday.
The deceased were identified as Harish Sastry (39) and his father Veerabhadra (80), they said.
According to police, the accident occurred at around 6 pm on December 25 at Thotagere Cross in Nelamangala taluk of Bengaluru Rural district when the family was returning home after visiting their village.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver lost control of the vehicle and hit the tree.
While Harish and Veerabhadra died on the spot, other members of the family sustained severe injuries and are admitted to a private hospital in Nelamangala, where they are undergoing treatment, a senior police officer said.
A case was registered and further investigation is underway.
