Today marks the 29th day of Israels continuing conflict with Hamas. The Israeli army is waging ground operations in Gaza in order to destroy Hamas. During this period, an Israeli soldier of Indian origin was killed in combat with Hamas rebels. The name of the killed soldier was Staff Sergeant Halle from Dimona area of Israel. Many people of Indian origin live in this place. That is why it is also called Little India. Dimonas Bani Bittan informed about Halles death in an Instagram post. This death has saddened all of us.
US and Arab leaders have stepped up pressure on Israel to ease its siege of Gaza and end the war at least temporarily to help civilians.
Nearly four weeks after the heinous Hamas attack, Israels fight against Hamas terrorists continues. US President Joe Biden has suggested a "short pause" in the conflict to enable humanitarian relief deliveries. On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed to Israel and Jordan for meetings. The goal of this mission is to let assistance supplies into Palestine and to clear the path for the evacuation of foreign nationals and injured people. In the previous two days, about 800 people had fled.
Although Israel did not respond immediately to Bidens idea, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday, "We are moving forward." Nobody is going to stop us. Netanyahu had already opposed the cease-fire. He promised to put an end to Hamas authority in Gaza.
An attack on Thursday razed a residential building in the Burij refugee camp, some miles south of Gaza City.
According to a spokeswoman for Gazas civilian security agency, at least 15 individuals were killed in the attack, and local residents believe that many more were buried under the debris.
Arab nations, including Americas friends, have expressed alarm about the conflict. Jordan has summoned its ambassador to Israel and requested that the Israeli ambassador remain in the country until the war is over.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said that the US is not talking about moving towards a general ceasefire, but there should be a "pause in it for some time".
In the special session of the United Nations General Assembly, the resolution presented for a ceasefire in Gaza on humanitarian grounds was adopted with an overwhelming majority. However, 45 countries including India, Britain, Canada, Germany abstained from voting.
Indias abstention from voting is surprising. The established traditional non-aligned image of India on the world stage has been broken by this stand.
The proposal presented by Jordan for a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war has been passed in the United Nations General Assembly.
The UNGA has adopted the resolution with an overwhelming majority. 120 votes were cast in favor of the proposal, while 14 votes were cast against it, whereas 45 countries had kept themselves away from voting. The resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on humanitarian grounds. It also calls for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza without interruption, including resuming the distribution of water, electricity and goods.
Today, even after the killing of more than 8000 people in Gaza, the cycle of violence has not stopped. Now the Israeli army has also started carrying out ground attacks, which is likely to lead to more deaths. More than 3000 of those who have died so far are innocent children.
There is no international law that has not been crushed in this war. There is no such dignity which has not been violated. There is no such law which has not been flouted.
Our country was founded on the principles of non-violence and truth. Our freedom fighters sacrificed their lives for these principles. These principles are the basis of the Constitution, which defines our nationality. They represent the moral courage of India that has guided its steps as a member of the international community.
When every law of humanity has been destroyed, food, water, medical supplies, communications and electricity have been cut off for millions of people and thousands of men, women and children are being harmed in Palestine.
Then it is wrong to look at Indias absenteeism and silence in the UNGA voting. Whereas India is the opposite of all these things that India as a nation has always stood for.
It was the centerpiece of Indias G20 chairmanship. We are one planet, one family, and one future. The G20 leaders met in New Delhi on September 9-10, 2023, under the subject "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam." Prominent leaders from around the world agreed that we are at a watershed moment in history where the decisions we make will determine the fate of our people and the planet.
India attempted to create a long line by effectively organizing the G-20. We were also successful in this. This event was critical in successfully directing the attention of the entire globe toward India.
The historic India-West Asia-Europe Economic Corridor was announced on the first day of the G-20 summit. India, America, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, Germany and European Union will participate in it. Through this corridor, India, West Asia and Europe will now be directly connected through rail and port. With its construction, trade between India and Europe will increase by about 40%. This will provide an answer to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) corridor.
This corridor was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with US President Joe Biden, Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman and European Union leaders.
On this occasion, PM Modi had said that today we have reached a historic partnership. In the coming time, it will become an effective medium for economic integration of India, West Asia and Europe. Biden said that America will invest in a new rail line from Angola towards the Indian Ocean, which will create jobs and food security will increase.
All of this will be achievable only if Arab countries, especially West Asia, are at peace. Indias international image has been that of a non-aligned country. To keep this image, we must actively assist in the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Our foreign policy should be distinct from that of the United States. We will never be able to follow in Americas footsteps. Their personal interests have always come first. In contrast, India has been discussing Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam since ancient times.
What is the G20s motto? Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam means "One Earth, One Family, One Future" in Sanskrit. It is based on the Maha Upanishad, an ancient Sanskrit scripture.
( The writer is a Journalist- Ambrish Srivastava ) Views expressed are
personal.