On July 3, 2015, in a manner uncharacteristic of its longstanding position on the Israel-Palestinian issue, India abstained from voting on a UN Human Right Council (UNHRC) resolution that censured Israel for “alleged war crimes” during the 2014 Gaza conflict. Traditionally, India has almost unfailingly supported resolutions condemning Israel’s alleged violations regarding the Palestinian issue. On this occasion though, India joined Kenya, Macedonia, Ethiopia, and Paraguay in abstaining. Of the remaining 42 members of the UNHRC, 41 voted for the resolution, and only the United States voted against it. Almost immediately, international and domestic political circles were abuzz with the idea of India’s changed stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
