The United Nations Security Council is broken. Everyone knows it, but very few global leaders are willing to say how to fix it without protecting their own narrow geopolitical turf. That is what makes the recent blunt endorsement from Palestinian Ambassador to India, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, so striking.
At a time when Gaza is facing a brutal humanitarian crisis and the West is caught in a web of diplomatic double standards, Abu Shawesh did not mince words. He explicitly stated that India fully deserves a permanent seat with veto power on the UN Security Council.
This is not empty flattery. It is a calculated, strategic call for a complete rebalancing of global power. For decades, the Global South has been treated as a spectator in a theater run by five permanent members who use their vetoes like personal shields. By backing India, Palestine is making a desperate, logical bet on a nation that actually understands the struggles of developing states.
The Broken Promise of the Security Council
The current structure of the Security Council is a relic of 1945. It reflects a world that no longer exists. Today, a handful of countries hold the ultimate power to block resolutions, effectively paralyzing the UN when decisive action is needed most. We have seen this paralysis play out in real time with the ongoing devastation in Gaza.
Ambassador Abu Shawesh pointed out that reforming the UN does not mean destroying it. It means expanding it to reflect contemporary realities. He argued that we must either eliminate the veto voice entirely or grant it to rising global powers like India to balance the scales.
When the current permanent members use their veto power, they often do so to protect their allies rather than uphold international law. This has created a massive credibility gap. The Global South is tired of watching from the sidelines while decisions that impact millions of lives are decided by a select few. India represents a massive chunk of humanity. Leaving it out of the permanent decision-making core is not just unfair. It is dangerously outdated.
Why the Palestinian Envoy Calls India Big Brother
The relationship between India and Palestine is not a recent development of convenience. It goes back to the very foundation of both modern entities. Abu Shawesh fondly referred to India as Palestine's "elder brother". This phrasing carries deep emotional and historical weight.
Go back to 1947. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, India voted against the UN Partition Plan for Palestine. Gandhi made his stance incredibly clear, famously stating that Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same way that England belongs to the English.
India was also the first non-Arab state to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole representative of the Palestinian people in 1974. It was among the first to recognize the State of Palestine in 1988.
This shared history of fighting against colonial occupation creates an unbreakable bond of empathy. Indian diplomats understand the language of self-determination. Abu Shawesh spent nearly a decade working at the UN in New York. He witnessed firsthand the immense respect and influence Indian diplomats command on the global stage. When India speaks, people listen. Palestine wants that voice to have the ultimate authority of a permanent seat.
Hard Proof of India Commitment to Palestine
Critics of India’s foreign policy often point to its growing strategic partnership with Israel as a sign that New Delhi has abandoned its historical allies. But that is a surface-level reading. India has pulled off one of the most sophisticated balancing acts in modern diplomacy.
Even as India maintains strong defense and technology ties with Tel Aviv, it has never wavered in its core support for a sovereign, independent Palestine.
Look at the tangible support. India has consistently funded development projects directly on Palestinian soil. Right now, India is working on building a brand-new specialty hospital in the West Bank. This is not just throwing money at a problem. It is building critical infrastructure that saves lives.
Unfortunately, the ongoing conflict has exacted a heavy toll on these joint efforts. The Israeli military has destroyed several Indian-funded projects in Gaza, including schools and the Jawaharlal Nehru Library at Al-Azhar University. This destruction of educational spaces built by Indian taxpayers is a direct blow to the shared future both nations have worked to build.
Despite these setbacks, India continues to send tons of life-saving medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the region. Abu Shawesh acknowledged this aid with gratitude but posed a haunting question to the international community. If not India and the Indian people, then who?
The Hard Diplomatic Reality
The road to a permanent seat is paved with immense geopolitical friction. India formally launched its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the 2028-29 term. This bid is a vital stepping stone, but the ultimate goal remains the permanent expansion of the council.
The current permanent five are highly resistant to sharing their power. While countries like the US, UK, France, and Russia have expressed support for India's permanent membership at various points, progress remains stalled in a loop of endless bureaucratic debates. China, in particular, remains a major hurdle, reluctant to see its regional rival gain equal status on the global stage.
Palestine's endorsement highlights why this delay is so damaging. Without a strong, independent voice representing the Global South, the Security Council will continue to fail in its primary mission to maintain international peace and security. India does not carry the historical baggage of Western colonial powers. It does not seek to impose its political system on other nations. This makes it uniquely qualified to act as a fair mediator in deeply entrenched conflicts.
Next Steps for New Delhi
If India wants to turn these endorsements into reality, it must take decisive action.
- Vigorously pursue the 2028-29 non-permanent seat campaign. New Delhi must use this upcoming term to demonstrate its capability to lead on global security issues and build a coalition of supporting nations.
- Deepen developmental footprint in Palestine. Despite the destruction of previous projects, India must pledge to rebuild the destroyed schools and libraries once a permanent ceasefire is achieved.
- Actively lobby middle powers. India needs to build an active, vocal alliance with other top contenders for reform, such as Brazil, Germany, and Japan, to force a vote on structural changes at the UN.
The time for passive waiting is over. With the backing of key voices from the Global South like Palestine, India has the moral authority to demand its rightful place at the table. The world cannot afford a paralyzed Security Council any longer.
Palestinian Envoy Abdullah Abu Shawesh on India's Role
This video features Palestinian Ambassador Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh explaining why Palestine views India as an "elder brother" and discussing his strong support for India obtaining a permanent seat with veto power in the UN Security Council.
