Humanitarian crisis caused by Israel-Hamas conflict unacceptable: Indian Amb Ruchira Kamboj

India has termed the UN Security Council resolution that demanded immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the month of Ramadan a positive step asserting that the humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing IsraelHamas conflict is simply unacceptableWe are deeply troubled by the ongoing conflict in Gaza The humanitarian crisis has deepened and instability has been increasing in the region and beyond Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj told a UN General Assembly meeting here MondayShe said India views the adoption of a resolution on March 25 by the UN Security Council as a positive stepKamboj said the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a largescale loss of civilian lives especially women and childrenThe resulting humanitarian crisis is simply unacceptable she said adding that Delhi has strongly condemned the deaths of civilians in the conflict and it is imperative to avoid the loss of civilian lives in any conflict situationThe UNSC resolution adopted last month demanded an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefireIt also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages as well as the humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs The adoption of the resolution had come as a breakthrough in the IsraelHamas conflict which had been on for more than five months thenThe 15nation Council adopted the resolution put forth by the 10 nonpermanent elected members of the Council with 14 nations voting in favour none against and an abstention by the US a permanent memberUN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had said that the longawaited resolution on Gaza must be implemented Failure would be unforgivableHowever on March 22 just three days before the Council adopted the resolution permanent members Russia and China vetoed a different resolution on Gaza tabled by the US The USled draft had stated the imperative for an immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sidesThe veto by Beijing and Moscow triggered the debate in the General Assembly under the requirement that the President of the 193member UN body will convene a meeting within 10 working days whenever a veto is cast in the CouncilKamboj underlined that Indias position on the conflict has been clearly articulated on several occasions by the countrys leadershipShe said there can be no justification for terror attacks or hostage taking and stressed that the terror attacks on Israel on October 7 last year were shocking and deserve our unequivocal condemnationIndia 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 Kamboj saidIndia voiced its concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and underlined the imperative for the scaling up of humanitarian aid to the people in the strip immediately in order to avert a further deterioration in the situationKamboj welcomed efforts of the United Nations and the international community in working towards peace in the regionShe noted that India has provided humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine and will continue to do soIndian leaders have repeatedly emphasised that only a twostate solution achieved through direct and meaningful negotiations between both sides on final status issues will deliver an enduring peaceWe are committed to supporting a twostate 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 and urged all parties to foster conditions conducive to resuming direct peace negotiations at an early dateCiting the Ministry of Health MoH in Gaza the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA said that in the six months between October 7 2023 and the afternoon of April 8 at least 33207 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and 75933 injuredAccording to the Government Media Office in Gaza fatalities include about 14500 children and 9560 womenMore than 1200 Israelis and foreign nationals including 33 children have been killed in Israel the vast majority on October 7 last year when Hamas carried out the shocking terror attacks against IsraelPresident of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis expressed deep regret that the General Assembly must routinely meet on the veto initiative due to the perennial inability of the Security Council to speak with one voice on matters of grave importanceOnce again we convene under this initiative as conflict in Gaza rages into its sixth bloody month as death and destruction rule the day and as divisions among Member States especially in the Council persist he saidFrancis described the conflict in Gaza as blight on our common humanityWith Ramadan ending on April 9 Francis said millions around the world will celebrate the religious holiday EidalFitr in the safety of their homes while Gazans will again offer prayers on the ruins of mosques and their obliterated homesI implore the Security Council members to meaningfully use their power in support of an immediate and importantly a lasting ceasefire on the ground he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever