India has expressed hope that Palestine’s recent bid for full membership in the United Nations, which was vetoed by the United States last month, will be reconsidered and ultimately endorsed. The statement was made by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, during a session at the United Nations.
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj emphasized that in keeping with India’s longstanding policy, the country supports the reconsideration of Palestine’s application. The US had previously blocked a UN Security Council resolution that garnered 12 favorable votes, with only Switzerland and the UK abstaining, preventing Palestine from achieving full membership status.
India has a historical relationship with Palestine, being the first non-Arab state to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1974 and one of the first to acknowledge the State of Palestine in 1988. India opened its Representative Office to the Palestine Authority in Gaza in 1996, which was later relocated to Ramallah in 2003.
Palestine currently holds the status of a “non-member observer state” at the UN, a position that allows participation but not voting rights. The only other entity with similar status is the Holy See.
The ambassador also reiterated India’s commitment to a two-state solution through direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine, aimed at establishing enduring peace. She highlighted the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has persisted for over six months, exacerbating instability in the region.
The discussion comes in the wake of a formal request by Palestine on April 2 to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to reconsider its full membership application. Admission to the UN requires approval from both the Security Council and the General Assembly, where a two-thirds majority vote is necessary.
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj condemned the large-scale loss of civilian lives and the humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. She confirmed that India would continue to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine to help alleviate the crisis.
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