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‘Indra’ Collection Takes Center Stage at UN COP28 Sustainable Fashion Summit

Our vision with Indra was to showcase the mighty God of Rain and Storm’s splendour and vitality in the face of the climate crisis… Shantanu & Nikhil interact with N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

Celebrated Indian Designer duo Shantanu & Nikhil, renowned for their distinct take on Indian fashion, showcase their latest collection Indra at The United Nations COP28 Sustainable Fashion Summit 2023.

The collection, Indra, a name that resonates with reverence and urgency, is more than just fashion; it’s a heartfelt plea. It’s a tapestry woven with threads of the divine, the earthly, and the fervent appeal for help in the shadow of the climate crisis.

The exclusive fashion event featured talented designer labels from all over the world including Stella McCartney, LVMH, Rami Kadi, Gelareh Designs and Shantanu & Nikhil the only designers from India showcasing at this esteemed event. IANSLife had an in-depth interview with the duo designers. Read excerpt:

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this collection and how the concept of ‘Indra’ came about?

Shantanu & Nikhil: Indra is a name that resonates with reverence and urgency, and is more than just fashion; it’s a heartfelt plea. We paid homage to the rain god in Indian mythology, and weave a tapestry with threads of the divine, the earthly, unlined with the emotional appeal for help in the shadow of the climate crisis. In a world weighed down by the weight of environmental turmoil, Indra aims to transform the fashion runway into a sacred stage for transcendence.

The detailing and the design language have always been very exclusive and native to the Maison. Can you please elaborate on what the collection looks like?

Shantanu & Nikhil: Our vision with Indra was to showcase the mighty God of Rain and Storm’s splendour and vitality in the face of the climate crisis. The designs portray the legendary drought embodied by an assumed demonic energy, ‘Vritra’ and one can witness the symbolic cracks representing the threat of water scarcity. The earthy colour scheme of the collection captures the severity of the drought while the designs symbolize the effects of this environmental force. What follows is a rapid transformation to Water, as this symbolizes the presence of Lord Indra. The free-flowing drapes and shimmering silk, which is also the signature of Shantanu & Nikhil, mimic the personification of the serene waters and the beauty of the ice caps. The drapes and tassels represent the ebb and flow of life-giving streams and embody the dynamic nature of water. Lastly, we have also tried to capture a glimpse of divine intervention in the form of rain and thunder in the form of metallic elements, to restore the balance of life.

Being the only Indian designer showcasing at the Sustainable Fashion Summit alongside international fashion houses such as LVMH and Stella McCartney is truly an honour. How has the Indian fashion landscape evolved over the years?

Shantanu & Nikhil: We are so thrilled to be showcasing Maison Shantanu & Nikhil’s latest collection ‘Indra’ on a global platform hosted by the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 28 in Dubai. It is not only taking Indian Couture Fashion to the global forefront but also the rich cultural heritage depicted by the intricate weaves of the Indian artisans.

India’s diverse cultural tapestry provides a unique foundation for sustainable fashion, where age-old techniques and artisanal skills seamlessly merge with contemporary design principles. In a time where climate change is a pressing area of concern, we are glad to be contributing to the cause through our creative endeavours of showcasing Indra.

Please elaborate on the design techniques and the colour palette used in this collection.

Shantanu & Nikhil: The design techniques of Indra are a seamless integration of the signature Shantanu & Nikhil ethos, the intricacy of Indian craftsmanship and a global perspective on contemporary fashion. The colour palette starts earthy, alluding to the severity of the drought and scarcity of water. As the show goes on, there is a rapid transformation to water- and the mighty force of Lord Indra. There are free-flowing silhouettes in shimmering silk, drapes and tassels and intricate metallic elements that create a transcendental aura, all tied together by Shantanu & Nikhil’s craftsmanship.

 Sustainability has been a largely discussed topic recently, what is your take on sustainability in Indian fashion?

Shantanu & Nikhil: In the global conversation on sustainable fashion, we hope that we bring a perspective that highlights the symbiotic relationship between cultural heritage and environmental consciousness through our brand Shantanu & Nikhil. By seamlessly integrating India’s rich traditions into the contemporary sustainable fashion narrative, we hope that we are the conversation-starters that strive to redefine luxury as a harmonious blend of timeless elegance, ethical practices, and cultural pride.

 Due to sustainable practices coming into play, what is the biggest change that the couture industry has faced in the recent past?

Shantanu & Nikhil: Couture, from its very origins, has always been about creating something timeless. Each piece of apparel has been crafted to transcend time and has rested upon the tenets of mindful consumption. Given that the current climate crisis is one that no one can turn a blind eye to anymore, we feel we need to come together as an industry to channel our efforts and do our bit.

Being an ever-evolving brand and always following the ‘Anti-trend’ path, how do you plan to evolve and appeal more to the younger generation?

Shantanu & Nikhil: The deep-rooted emotion of being ‘Anti-trend’ within our brand gives us a sense of elasticity to continuously reinvent. Being trend-centric is market driven but being anti-trend is about driving the market & that’s our philosophy. We believe that disruption & innovation are the only two pillars that we as a brand stand on- from revolutionising the millennial ceremonial wardrobe and to now carving out a new repertoire- S&N by Shantanu & Nikhil; we continue to put constant effort to stay ahead of ourselves and showcase brand resiliency.

With the steady innovations and the pace at which the fashion industry is moving, every designer must experiment and expand their horizon. If anything at all, it’s a boon that the new generation is willing to break rules and experiment with their style quotient. It helps us as designers in breaking our barriers concerning their latest collections as well as further pushes the glass ceiling. We’re gearing towards a new generation that is unafraid to claim their space and we truly admire their grit. We have been experimenting with new silhouettes- introducing new drapes in menswear and feel the audience was also welcoming towards a brand narrative like this. The lines between the stereotypes of gender are blurring and so is the fashion scenario with regards to that.

Please tell us about your future collections and what is in the pipeline

Shantanu & Nikhil: We have an exciting pipeline. We will be launching the third edition of SNCC, that is Shantanu & Nikhil Cricket Club and also be gearing up for our milestone anniversary next year.

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UN refugee agency says needs $400m by end of Dec

Among them, nearly 36.5 million have fled across borders and are living as refugees, according to UNHCR — a number that has doubled in the past seven years and looks set to rise…reports Asian Lite News

Humanitarian agencies are facing dire funding shortages to address a multitude of global crises, the United Nations refugee agency warned Wednesday, saying it alone needed $400 million by the end of the year.

Addressing the opening of the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi called on donors to strengthen their support.

“Many humanitarian organizations are facing severe funding challenges,” he said, pointing out that “UNHCR alone is lacking $400 million to end the year with the minimum of needed resources.”

That, he said, was “a shortfall we have not experienced in years, and we are all looking with much concern at 2024.” From Russia’s war in Ukraine, the civil war in Sudan and a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, conflicts and crises had fueled record displacement even before the Gaza war erupted.

The number of people displaced worldwide passed 114 million by the end of September, an all-time high.

Grandi said that amounts to “114 million shattered dreams, disrupted lives, interrupted hopes. It is a figure that reflects a crisis — many crises — of humanity.”

Among them, nearly 36.5 million have fled across borders and are living as refugees, according to UNHCR — a number that has doubled in the past seven years and looks set to rise.

“A major human catastrophe is unfolding in the Gaza Strip,” Grandi warned, lamenting that “so far the Security Council has failed to stop the violence.” While the war that erupted after Hamas’s unprecedented attack inside Israel on October 7 falls outside of UNHCR’s mandate, Grandi said the agency expects it could spur “more civilian deaths and suffering, and also further displacement that threatens the region.”

While keeping a strong focus on Gaza, he appealed to the international community: “Please do not lose sight of other pressing humanitarian and refugee crises.”

He pointed to the millions displaced by conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan, the plight of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, and the millions who have fled due to conflict and insecurity in Syria, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and across the Sahel.

More than 3,000 people, including heads of state and government and more than 300 refugees, were taking part in the second edition of the forum, which will run through Friday.

Grandi appealed to participants to make the forum “a moment of unity, in which all of us join forces to ensure that those who flee because their life, freedom and security are threatened can find protection, and that everything is done to resolve their exile as soon as possible.”

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India votes demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza at UN

Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the outside view of the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying/IANS)

She said that India welcomes the unity of international community in finding a common ground the address the multiple challenges faced by the region at the present time…reports Asian Lite News

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution ‘Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations’ demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. India voted in favour of the ceasefire resolution in the UNGA’s emergency session on the Middle East on Tuesday (local time).

As many as 153 nations, including India, voted in favour of the resolution, while 10, including US, Israel and Austria, voted against and 23 countries, including Argentina, Ukraine and Germany abstained from voting.

The resolution demands an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and well as “ensuring humanitarian access.” It further demands that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including humanitarian law, with regard to protection of civilians.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said that a terrorist attack occurred in Israel on October 7. She noted that there is an enormous humanitarian crisis and a large-scale loss of human lives.

“India has voted in favour of the resolution just adopted by the General Assembly. The situation that this August body has been deliberating upon has many dimensions. There is the terrorist attack in Israel on 7 October and the concern for the hostages taken at that time. There is an enormous humanitarian crisis and a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially of women and children.There is the issue of observing international humanitarian law in all circumstances. And there is the endeavour to find a peaceful and lasting two-state solution to the longstanding Palestine question,” Kamboj said.

She said that India welcomes the unity of international community in finding a common ground the address the multiple challenges faced by the region at the present time.

Ruchira Kamboj said, “Our challenge, in this extraordinarily difficult time, is to strike the right balance. The gravity and complexity of what the international community faces are underlined by the secretary general invoking Article 99 of the Charter of the United Nations. We, therefore, welcome the fact that the international community unity has been able to find a common ground to address the multiple challenges facing the region right now.”

Meanwhile, United States-led amendment to the draft resolution was not passed at the UN General Assembly. As many as 84 nations voted in favour of the amendment; 62 voted against while 25 voted abstained.

Furthermore, Austria-led amendment to the draft resolution on the Gaza crisis failed to pass at the UN General Assembly. 89 nations have voted in favour of the amendment, 61 voted against the amendment and 20 abstained from voting.

Israel’s Permanent Representative, Gilad Erdan, said that the UN General Assembly finds itself “about to vote on another hypocritical resolution.”

He said, “Not only does this resolution fail to condemn Hamas for crimes against humanity, it does not mention Hamas at all. This will only prolong the death and destruction in the region, that is precisely what a ceasefire means.”

Erdan said that Hamas’ only intention is to destroy Israel and the group has announced that it will repeat its atrocities again and again until Israel ceases to exist. He called for the need to hold Hamas accountable and added that a ceasefire means only one thing which is the “survival of Hamas.”

He asked, “So why would anyone want to aid Hamas in continuing their rule of terror and actualizing their satanic agenda?” He further said, “We all know that the so call humanitarian ceasefire in this resolution has nothing to do with humanity. Israel is already taking every measure to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, said it was a matter of “deep regret, that some friends of Israel have introduced amendments to once again condemn only one side but exonerate the other.”

He said, “This is a war against the Palestinian people.” He added, “Israel’s goal is to erase not only a people but the entire idea of Palestine. It’s campaign is a carbon copy of the massive campaigns of racial slaughter by other settler colonial regimes in history.”

The vote comes as the war between Israel and Hamas enters its third month, with medics and aid groups expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel has said it will not stop its military campaign until it destroys Hamas. Israel launched a counter-offensive against Hamas’ after its attack on Israel on October 7. (ANI)

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Israeli Ambassador Accuses UN Secretary-General of Bias

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.(photo:Twitter)

Gilad Ergan said that the Secretary-General decided to activate this rare clause only when it allows him to put pressure on Israel, which was fighting the Nazi Hamas terrorists…reports Asian Lite News

 Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan on Thursday alleged that Secretary General Antonio Guterres was playing into the hands of Hamas and reiterated the demand for his immediate resignation.

Erdan was responding to the UN Secretary-General’s appeal to the Security Council to call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. “Today, the Secretary-General has reached a new moral low,” he said in a statement.

He said that he is activating, “for the first time,” Article 99 of the UN Charter in relation to the Israel-Hamas war, an article that can only be invoked in a situation where international peace and security are threatened.

Gilad Ergan said that the Secretary-General decided to activate this rare clause only when it allows him to put pressure on Israel, which was fighting the Nazi Hamas terrorists.

He said that this was more proof of the Secretary-General’s moral distortion and his bias against Israel. Ergan said, “The Secretary-General’s call for a ceasefire is actually a call to keep Hamas’ reign of terror in Gaza.”

“Instead of the Secretary-General explicitly pointing to Hamas’ responsibility for the situation and calling on the terrorist leaders to turn themselves in and return the hostages, thus ending the war, the Secretary-General chooses to continue playing into Hamas’ hands.”

The Israel Ambassador to the United Nations said, “The distorted positions of the Secretary-General only prolong the fighting in Gaza, because they give hope to the Hamas terrorists that the war will be stopped and they will be able to survive”.

He said that the UN needs a Secretary-General who supports the war on terror, not a Secretary-General who acts according to the script written by Hamas.

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UN Urges Restraint in Israel-Gaza Conflict

Guterres calls on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law…reports Asian Lite News

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is alarmed by the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Palestinians after a short pause, his spokesman has said.

The secretary-general is extremely alarmed by the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups in Gaza over the weekend, including rocket fire toward Israel from Gaza and the renewal of ground operations and intensified airstrikes by the Israel Defence Forces in southern Gaza, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.

Guterres calls on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. The United Nations continues to appeal to Israeli forces to avoid further action that would exacerbate the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and to spare civilians from more suffering. Civilians, including health workers, journalists and UN personnel, and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the statement.

“The secretary-general reiterates the need for unimpeded and sustained humanitarian aid flow to meet the needs of the people throughout the (Gaza) Strip. For people ordered to evacuate, there is nowhere safe to go and very little to survive on,” it said.

Guterres also remains gravely concerned about the escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank, including intensified Israeli security operations, high numbers of fatalities and arrests, spiking settler violence and attacks on Israelis by Palestinians, it said.

The secretary-general reiterates his call for a sustained humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza and the unconditional and immediate release of all remaining hostages, said the statement.

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UN Envoy Urges Urgent De-escalation in Syria

These strikes have coincided with reports of rocket and missile launches from southern Syria over the occupied Syrian Golan toward Israel, she added…reports Asian Lite News

UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Najat Rochdi, has called for urgent de-escalation in Syria and warned of the spillover of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“We remain deeply concerned about the prospect of a potentially wider escalation in Syria. The effects of the tragic developments in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel continue to be felt inside Syria,” she told the Security Council on Tuesday.

On November 25, Israeli airstrikes once again hit Damascus airport, once again temporarily halting the UN Humanitarian Air Service which operates from this airport and services Syria’s humanitarian programs, she noted as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

“Targeting civilian infrastructure is prohibited under international law.”

The attack on Damascus airport came after several other airstrikes attributed to Israel on other locations across Syria as well as reports of Israeli artillery fire into southern Syria, she said.

These strikes have coincided with reports of rocket and missile launches from southern Syria over the occupied Syrian Golan toward Israel, she added.

Near-daily reports of attacks on US forces in northeast Syria continue, mostly claimed by the so-called Islamic Resistance in Iraq, though none have been reported in the last few days. The US, which claims that groups behind these attacks are backed by Iran, have carried out two more rounds of what they say are retaliatory strikes on facilities in Syria which it claims are used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and groups that it backs. Iran denies that these groups are affiliated with it, said Rochdi.

Meanwhile, the Syrian conflict continues in all its other dimensions, involving Syrian government forces, rebels, terrorist groups and Türkiye, she added.

“Violence continues in Syria, including spillover from Gaza and Israel. To continue such violence is to play with fire. Just one miscalculation … could ignite a dozen different powder kegs that lie within Syrian borders,” she warned.

“We need sustained de-escalation operationalised through robust channels between all stakeholders. We need the killing, injuring and displacement of civilians, and the destruction of infrastructure not just to decrease, but to end,” she noted.

Such a de-escalation of violent conflict would be a vital start, but it is not enough. The only way to tackle this unsustainable status quo is through a credible and comprehensive approach to a political solution that puts all of the issues of concern to stakeholders on the table, allowing Syrians to realise their legitimate aspirations and chart a path to restoring Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity, said Rochdi.

Attention on Syria has ebbed somewhat given the terrible crisis in the region, but the situation in Syria is too dangerous to be left unattended, she warned.

“If we do not give the Syrian parties and people a horizon of hope and a political path to resolving their conflict, I fear that the situation will boil over again and again, spilling across a region that is already in a moment of historical crisis,” Rochdi added.

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Botswana signs UN pact to protect people against climate change

Botswana is currently grappling with new health challenges brought about by the effects of climate change…reports Asian Lite News

Botswana has signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to show commitment toward building a resistant health system.

Botswana is currently grappling with new health challenges brought about by the effects of climate change, which include the increase and prevalence of climate-related diseases and conditions, said Edwin Dikoloti, Botswana’s minister of health and wellness, at the signing ceremony in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, on Friday.

According to Dikoloti, the framework’s goal is to increase the climate resilience of health systems to protect and improve the health of communities in an unstable and changing climate, while optimizing the use of resources and implementing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“We have, therefore, decided to publicly make binding commitments to ensuring that our people are protected from health threats that may come their way due to environmental degradation,” he said.

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Palestinian UN envoy calls for pause to become ‘end’ to war

Palestine's Ambassador to UN, Riyad Mansour.(photo: https://twitter.com/Palestine_UN)

“Hundreds of Palestinian children will not be killed thanks to this truce,” Mansour told the UN Security Council…reports Asian Lite News

The Palestinian UN ambassador called Wednesday for a “definitive end” to Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, warning that a truce to release hostages “cannot be just a pause before the massacre starts all over again.”

Riyad Mansour spoke after Israel and Hamas announced a deal on Wednesday allowing at least 50 hostages and scores of Palestinian prisoners to be freed, while offering besieged Gaza residents a four-day truce after weeks of all-out war.

“Hundreds of Palestinian children will not be killed thanks to this truce,” Mansour told the UN Security Council.

“We owe it to them and to all the civilians in the Gaza Strip to put a definitive end to this criminal assault on the Palestinian people.

He thanked the nations of Qatar and Egypt for their roles in paving the way for the deal, and called on all those who contributed to “stopping this madness” to work to “to ensure a way forward that averts the resumption of this aggression.”

“This cannot be just a pause before the massacre starts all over again,” he said.

Mansour denounced Israel’s “occupation and racial discrimination, apartheid” against Palestinians, and said there was no military solution to the conflict.

Instead, Palestinians’ “inalienable rights” must be protected, he said.

Meanwhile Palestinians “do not justify the killing of a single Israeli civilian,” he said, adding: “No-one should condone atrocities based on the identity of the perpetrator.”

Israelis and Palestinians must not turn a blind eye to each other’s wounds and histories, but instead build respect on a “common vision of the future where all can live… not where one’s life is at the expense of another.”

Israeli UN ambassador Gilad Erdan responded by saying that, as soon as the truce ends, “we will continue striving toward our goals with full force.”

“We will not stop until we eliminate all of Hamas’ terror capabilities and ensure that they can no longer rule Gaza and threaten both Israeli civilians and the women and children of Gaza,” he said.

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India Skips UN Vote on Sports for Peace Resolution

The Olympics show that “it is possible to live in harmony and in respect of other people,” said Estanguet, a former Olympic athlete…reports Asian Lite News

Two days after the Cricket World Cup final, India has absented itself from voting on a General Assembly resolution on sports promoting “understanding among peoples and nations”.

Being absent during the voting on Tuesday does not amount to a formal abstention as it is not put on record.

The resolution, “Building a Peaceful and Better World through Sport and the Olympic Ideal”, was adopted with 118 votes while only Russia and Syria formally abstained.

India’s UN Mission did not respond to an IANS query about the absence.

The Assembly session was sparsely attended and 73 countries had stayed away.

The resolution said, “Sports can contribute to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding among peoples and nations.”

Sponsored by France, it tied the resolution to the Paris Olympics next year and called for an international truce for the event in a tradition going back to 776 BCE when the ancient Greeks stopped fighting during the games.

The truce is “to ensure the safe passage, access and participation of athletes, officials and all other accredited persons” attending the “Olympics and the Paralympic Games,” the resolution said.

It also called for ensuring the safety of the Games.

“Sports can play to prevent and counter-terrorism and violent extremism” and build “resilience against radicalisation to violence and terror recruitment,” it added.

Introducing the resolution on behalf of France, Tony Estanguet, the President of the Paris 2024 Olympic Organising Committee, said, “The games are the best incarnation of the powers of sport because they bring together tolerance, respect and sharing as values throughout the world.”

The Olympics show that “it is possible to live in harmony and in respect of other people,” said Estanguet, a former Olympic athlete.

However, rancour and politics crept in.

Russia’s delegate complained that there was a “dangerous trend of political interference in sport and of turning it into an instrument for exerting political pressure”.

“Our Olympic and Paralympic athletes are being stripped of their dreams for which they’ve lived and worked” of competing under their own country’s flag, she said.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said that ensuring non-discrimination and political neutrality in international sports competitions is “crucial for building a better and more peaceful world through sport”.

But he countered Russia’s complaint, saying that it was suspended because it violated the Olympic Charter by including athletes from regions of Ukraine it had invaded and infringing on the territorial integrity of that country’s Olympic committee.

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UN Passes Humanitarian Pause Resolution for Gaza

The resolution does not condemn Hamas or mention Israel’s right to defend itself, which the US has cited as the reason for vetoing the earlier resolution…reports Asian Lite News

At its fifth attempt, the UN Security Council has adopted a resolution calling for an extended humanitarian pause in the war in Gaza after the US under growing international dismay at the inaction over the tragedy in the territory withheld its veto while criticising it.

The resolution adopted on Wednesday also demanded the release of the hostages taken by Hamas when it attacked Israel on October 7 and called for a humanitarian corridor to ferry relief supplies to Gaza.

Russia and the UK joined the US in abstaining from voting on the resolution allowing it to be adopted with the support of the other 12 Council members, including France and China, the other permanent members.

Although the Security Council has enforcement powers and its resolutions are legally binding, this resolution will be merely symbolic as it does not include any penalties for ignoring it – which would be impossible to enforce anyway.

An amendment proposed by Russia to call for a “humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities” – in other words, a ceasefire – failed to pass because it did not get the minimum of nine votes, and the sole vote against it by the US did not translate into a veto.

The resolution proposed by Malta was a desperate attempt to get the Security Council to act on the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza where Israeli troops had taken over a hospital after sustained bombing that, according to the Gaza health ministry, has killed more than 10,000 people.

It comes 46 days after the Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took about 240 people as hostages, many of whom are still in captivity.

Israel began its continuing retaliation the next day through relentless bombing and started a ground invasion this week. 

United Arab Emirates Permanent Representative Lana Zaki Nusseibeh said that the Security Council’s failure to act on Gaza till now had created the impression “outside this building, and in our region in particular, the Council appears indifferent to the carnage and dismissive of the suffering”.

Although she abstained on the resolution, US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield echoed a similar sentiment.

“I think many had given up hope that we would ever speak on this conflict. But that’s exactly what we just did,” she said.

Two of the resolutions did not get the required minimum of nine votes to pass because of the abstentions of many members, and one was vetoed by the US and another by China and Russia.

Pictures of suffering children and other civilians in Gaza wounded in the Israeli bombing gave rise to international demands for a pause if not a ceasefire that brought pressure on Washington, which had earlier vetoed an almost similar resolution, to allow the resolution to pass.

The resolution demands that “all parties comply with their obligations under international law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians, especially children”.

It called for the creation of a safe route for “full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access” to get relief supplies, including fuel, from the UN and aid organisations to the people of Gaza.

It said the humanitarian pause in fighting should be for enough days to get the relief through, for rescue efforts and to repair essential infrastructure.

The resolution does not condemn Hamas or mention Israel’s right to defend itself, which the US has cited as the reason for vetoing the earlier resolution.

Thomas-Greenfield said, “I am horrified that a few members of this Council still cannot bring themselves to condemn the barbaric terrorist attack that Hamas carried out against Israel on October 7.”  

“What is stopping them from unequivocally condemning the actions of a terrorist organization that is determined to kill Jews and that gunned down civilians, burned families alive, and executed children,” she asked.

“Ultimately, the United States could not vote yes on a text that did not condemn Hamas or reaffirm the right of all Member States to protect their citizens from terrorist attacks,” she said, adding that Washington, however, supports “many of the important provisions” in it.

Meanwhile, General Assembly President Dennis Francis has called for an informal meeting to discuss the Gaza situation, his Spokesperson Monica Grayley.

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