On April 5, 2024, India chose not to vote either in favour or against a resolution passed by the United Nations' principal human rights body. This resolution condemned the purported use of starvation as a tactic of warfare in Gaza and urged an arms embargo on Israel. The resolution received approval with 28 votes in favour, six against, and 13 abstentions from the 47-member Human Rights Council. The council endorsed a plea to halt the sale, transfer, and diversion of military equipment to Israel, with the aim of preventing further breaches of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses. 

Proposed by Pakistan representing the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the resolution brought forward at the Human Rights Council aimed to exert diplomatic pressure on Israel amidst its military actions in Gaza. Unlike resolutions from the UN Security Council, those from the Human Rights Council lack legal enforceability but carry substantial moral significance.  

Delegates emphasised that the resolution was driven by the imperative to halt severe human rights violations in the Palestinian Territory. Bolivia, Cuba, and the State of Palestine were among the co-sponsors of the resolution, which garnered support from over two dozen countries, including Brazil, China, Luxembourg, Malaysia, and South Africa, prior to the vote. 

Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Meirav Eilon Shahar, dismissed the resolution, labeling it as another indication of the Human Rights Council's perceived anti-Israel bias. Shahar criticised the resolution's call to halt arms sales to Israel for its defense efforts while alleging continued arming of Hamas. She also expressed frustration over the Council's failure to condemn what she described as severe atrocities against Israelis, including numerous murders, kidnappings, and sexual violence. Later, speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Council, the Israeli official reiterated these concerns. 

The most recent document criticises Israel for employing explosive weapons with broad-area impact in populated regions of Gaza. It highlights the extensive repercussions of such weapons on essential infrastructure like hospitals, schools, and utilities, which significantly impact millions of Palestinians. Additionally, the document condemns the utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) in military decision-making during conflicts. It also condemns the deliberate targeting of civilians, particularly citing an incident on October 7, 2023. Furthermore, the document calls for the immediate release of all remaining hostages, individuals held arbitrarily, and victims of enforced disappearance, while emphasising the urgent need for humanitarian access to hostages. 

Image Source: UN News