India Votes in Favor of UN Resolution Supporting Two-State Solution for Palestine

On Friday, India voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution endorsing the 'New York Declaration' aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue through the implementation of a two-state solution. The resolution, introduced by France, received overwhelming support with 142 countries voting in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions.

This resolution marks a notable shift in India's stance, as it had previously abstained from four ceasefire-related resolutions concerning Gaza in the past three years. The New York Declaration calls for collective action to end the war in Gaza and achieve a just, peaceful, and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It also urges the Israeli leadership to commit publicly to the two-state framework, which envisions a sovereign and viable Palestinian state alongside Israel.

The declaration condemns the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel—which resulted in 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages—and criticizes Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza for causing widespread civilian casualties, destruction, and humanitarian crisis. It calls for the immediate cessation of violence, halt to annexation and settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem, and stresses that Gaza should remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state united with the West Bank.

Countries such as Israel and the United States opposed the resolution, describing it as politically motivated and accusing it of failing to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization. Nevertheless, the global backing for this resolution reflects growing international concern and renewed efforts to revive peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.