India's UN abstention sparks outcry as student organisations rally for Gaza ceasefire

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: In a turn of events, India's decision to abstain from voting on a United Nations resolution urging a humanitarian truce has ignited controversy and criticism.

The nation's foreign policy has historically aligned with Palestine, making this move appear as a stark departure from its longstanding support for the Palestinian cause.

In response to this crisis, the student organisations, including AIDSO, SFI, AISA, and AISF, have urged students to unite in solidarity with the besieged people of Gaza.

They demanded an immediate ceasefire and the urgent provision of humanitarian aid and services to alleviate the suffering of those in Gaza.

The AIDSO State Secretary, Ajay Kamath, SFI State Secretary, Bhimana Gowda, AISA State Incharge, Lekha Adavi, AISF State Secretary, Lava, expressed their protest over India's abstention amid a harrowing situation in Palestine, where Israel has initiated an extensive ground offensive in Gaza.

The region now grapples with a near-total communication blackout, plunging its civilians into darkness. Israeli air strikes, characterised by indiscriminate carpet bombings, have intensified, relentlessly targeting schools, residential areas, and even hospitals.

They urge that this relentless siege on Gaza, involving the deprivation of vital resources such as food, water, fuel, electricity, and medicines, coupled with the disconnection of all communication channels, paints a grim picture of a military strategy aimed at erasing the Palestinian population.

They also underscored that amid these dire circumstances, Israel stands accused of committing war crimes, often with the implicit support of its allies, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Such actions blatantly violate international laws and the fundamental human rights of Palestinians. Despite numerous appeals from the United Nations and global leaders, over 7,326 Palestinian civilians have lost their lives, and more than 18,000 have sustained injuries in Israeli attacks since October 7.

This collective call to action underscores the importance of addressing the catastrophic destruction in Gaza and seeks accountability from those in power to halt this devastating conflict.