international humanitarian law

Parvathaneni, while speaking at the Annual UNSC Open Debate on "Protection of civilians in armed conflict", congratulated China on assuming the UNSC Presidency for this month.

India has strongly criticized Pakistan at the UN Security Council, accusing it of a long record of violence against civilians and citing recent incidents in Afghanistan linked to Pakistani military action. India's envoy highlighted UNAMA findings of civilian casualties due to cross-border violence and airstrikes, including an attack on a hospital during Ramadan.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar urged BRICS nations to find practical solutions to geopolitical crises, emphasizing the threat to global energy and economic security from West Asian tensions. He stressed dialogue, diplomacy, and respect for sovereignty, while also highlighting concerns over unilateral sanctions, terrorism, and the need for UN Security Council reform.

The UAE strongly condemned a drone strike on its Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, calling it a dangerous escalation and a threat to regional stability. Saudi Arabia also intercepted drones from Iraq. Amidst rising tensions, US President Trump warned Iran to act swiftly, while Tehran threatened retaliation against perceived US-Israeli aggression.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticized "unilateral coercive measures" and sanctions, stating they disproportionately harm developing nations and cannot replace diplomacy. He also voiced concern over the West Asia crisis, emphasizing the need for uninterrupted maritime traffic and a sustained ceasefire in Gaza, advocating for a two-state solution.

The United Nations condemned on Tuesday the toll from "escalating" Israeli military operations and settler attacks in the occupied West Bank on children, with 70 Palestinian children killed since the start of 2025. Since the start of 2025, when Israel began a large-scale military operation in the West Bank, "at least one Palestinian child has been killed on average every single week" there, adding that another 850 children had been injured during that period.

The United Nations on Wednesday called on Israel to immediately release two activists taken from a Gaza-bound flotilla, and demanded an investigation into "disturbing accounts" they had been severely mistreated. Kheetan decried the "disturbing accounts of severe mistreatment", calling for an investigation and insisting "those responsible must be brought to justice".

Israel's Navy successfully intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying activists near Crete, preventing any vessels from reaching Palestinian shores. Prime Minister Netanyahu commended the operation, stating all participants were turned back. The US State Department backed Israel's actions, calling the flotilla a counterproductive stunt organized by a pro-Hamas entity.

Iran and the US remain locked in a standoff, with Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz and the US imposing a naval blockade. Both actions disrupt global commons, while escalating rhetoric and social media influence commodity prices worldwide. India, heavily reliant on regional energy flows, faces significant economic fallout from this 'dual blockade'.

A Lebanese journalist, Amal Khalil, was tragically killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon while covering the ongoing conflict. Rescue efforts were significantly delayed by Israeli fire, preventing immediate access to the site. Khalil's death, the ninth journalist killed this year, has drawn condemnation and calls for international law adherence.

New York City hosts the United Nations Headquarters, a globally significant diplomatic hub on the East River. This complex, established in the 1950s, serves as the venue for crucial international discussions on peace, climate, and human rights. While not technically international territory, it possesses exclusive legal status, allowing independent functioning.

India and Russia have activated a logistics pact allowing each to station up to 3,000 troops, five warships and ten aircraft in the other’s territory for five years, extendable by mutual consent. The agreement enhances military cooperation, supports equipment servicing, enables joint exercises and missions, and grants reciprocal access to bases, strengthening interoperability in the Indo-Pacific and Arctic regions.

Mexico, Spain, and Brazil expressed deep concern over Cuba's "dramatic situation" and humanitarian crisis, calling for respectful dialogue and for the Cuban people to decide their future. This comes amid repeated threats from US President Donald Trump to "take Cuba" and increased US economic pressure, including oil shipment blockades, severely impacting the island.

President Trump's inflammatory social media post threatening Iran with attacks on power plants and bridges has sparked grave concerns among international law experts. They warn such actions could constitute war crimes, violating principles against targeting civilian infrastructure and causing disproportionate harm to the populace. This rhetoric risks undermining established rules of engagement.