Srinagar: National Conference (NC) President and former JK chief minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah along with Mehbooba Mufti, NC’s Hasnain Masoodi and CPI(M) leader and former MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami urged the government of India to stand up for Palestinians, where genocide by Israel is underway.
Dr Farooq expressed grave concern over discontinuation of the supply of water and electricity in the besieged Gaza, as more than 9,000 Palestinians have lost their lives.
He asserted the situation in Gaza is devastating and urged India to play its role in easing out the sufferings of people dwelling in Gaza.
“Look at the condition of the hospitals there are no medicines, no electricity and water. I feel people of India should stand up against the ongoing situation in Gaza,” Dr Farooq said.
Last week, India abstained from voting on a resolution in the United Nations that called for an immediate humanitarian truce between Israel and Palestine amid bombardment on Gaza.
The resolution drafted by Jordan also called for unhindered humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip. The 193 members of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), which met in a resumed 10th Emergency Special Session, voted on the draft resolution submitted by Jordan and co-sponsored by more than 40 nations including Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia and South Africa.
The resolution titled “Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations” was adopted with 120 nations voting in its favour, 14 against it and 45 abstaining.
Besides India, countries that abstained included Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Ukraine and the UK.
Additionally, the UNGA also demanded the “continuous, sufficient, and unhindered” provision of lifesaving supplies and services for civilians trapped inside the enclave.
The voting at UNGA comes at a time when Israel has announced expanding ground operations in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll has climbed to 9,227, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said on Friday.
“The victims include 3,826 children and 2,405 women, while 23,516 other people were injured,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told a news conference in Gaza City.
He said 2,100 people are still trapped under the rubble in Gaza, including 1,200 children.
“The Israeli attacks left 136 medics dead and 25 ambulances destroyed,” al-Qudra said.
“Sixteen massacres have been documented within the past hours, taking 196 victims, raising the total number of massacres committed by the occupation to 997,” he added.
