India opts out of UN resolution demanding end to Israeli occupation of Palestine

India on Wednesday abstained from voting on a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly demanding an end to Israel’s “unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” within 12 months.

The draft resolution, titled “Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” was adopted after 124 nations voted in its favour.

While 14 nations voted against the resolution, 43 abstained, including India, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Nepal, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

#BREAKING

UN General Assembly ADOPTS resolution demanding that Israel “brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence” in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and do so within 12 months

Voting result
In favor: 124
Against: 14
Abstain: 43 pic.twitter.com/hIwn7y6EY4— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) September 18, 2024

The resolution was based on an International Court of Justice ruling from July 19, which said that Israel’s continued presence in Palestinian territories violated international law and must end “as rapidly as possible”.

The United Nations court was referring to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israeli settlements in the West Bank began after the Six-Day War in 1967.

The ruling was a non-binding advisory opinion on the legality of the Israeli occupation of land in the...

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