India Favours UNHRC’s Resolution To Support ‘Right To Self-Determination For Palestinians’

India voted in favour of a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution supporting Palestinians’ right to self-determination, but abstained from voting on a separate resolution concerning human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the need for accountability.

The UNHRC adopted the latter resolution on Thursday, calling for accountability for potential war crimes and human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. 13 countries including India, France, Japan and the Dominican Republic abstained, while 28 countries like Bangladesh, Brazil, China, and South Africa voted in favor. 6 countries including the US voted against.

In a separate resolution affirming the right of Palestinians to self-determination, India voted in support. Only 2 countries – the US and Paraguay – voted against, while 3 countries including Albania, Argentina and Cameroon abstained.

Earlier, the UNHRC had adopted an anti-Israel resolution. In protest, the Israeli ambassador walked out at the end of her speech. The resolution condemned Israel regarding the war in Gaza but did not mention Hamas or its actions. It was seen as equating abductees with terrorist detainees, disregarding Israel’s right to self-defense, and legitimizing Palestinian ‘resistance.’ The resolution also called for an arms embargo on Israel while ignoring weapons supplied to Hamas by Iran.