'Shocked, ashamed': Priyanka Gandhi on India abstaining from voting on truce resolution in Gaza

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday said she was "shocked and ashamed" that India abstained from the voting on truce resolution in Gaza.

India has abstained in the United National General Assembly (UNGA) on a resolution, tabled by Gordan, seeking humanitarian truce in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi said "eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” and added that refusing to take a stand goes against everything the country has stood for as a nation.

"I am shocked and ashamed that our country has abstained from voting for a ceasefire in Gaza. Our county was founded on the principles of non-violence and truth, principles for which our freedom fighters laid down their lives, these principles form the basis of the constitution that defines our nationhood. They represent the moral courage of India that guided its actions as a member of the international community," Priyanka Gandhi said in a post on X.

Saying that “to refuse to take a stand and watch in silence as every law of humanity is pulverized goes against everything our country has stood for throughout its life as a nation”.

"To refuse to take a stand and watch in silence as every law of humanity is pulverised, food, water, medical supplies, communication and power is cut off to millions of people and thousands of men, women and children in Palestine are being annihilated goes against everything our country has stood for throughout its life as a nation," she said.

India on Friday abstained from voting on a resolution tabled by Jordan, voted for an amendment  proposed by Canada.

Jordan, which originally called for unhindered humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip but did not condemn Hamas. India voted in favour of Canada's proposed amendment along with 87 other nations. However, it could not be adopted as it did not have a two-thirds majority.

The Jordanian-led draft resolution was adopted by the General Assembly, with 120 votes in favour, 14 against and 45 abstentions. The 45 nations that abstained from voting on the resolution included Iceland, India, Panama, Lithuania and Greece.

"India is deeply concerned at the deteriorating security situation and the astounding loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict. The escalation of hostilities in the region will only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. It is necessary for all parties to display the utmost responsibility," said India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Yojna Patel in her remarks at the United Nations General Assembly Emergency Special Session on the Israel-Hamas war.

She noted that India has always supported a "negotiated two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine."