(RTTNews) - Indicating its strong support to Israel, India expressed its reservations from making any "unqualified endorsement" on the findings and recommendations of the Goldstone report on the Gaza war at a special session of the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA).

"We have reservations in making unqualified endorsement of the various recommendations as well as some of the procedures adopted by the Goldstone report, including the involvement of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and that of the Security Council," Member of Parliament (MP) B K Hariprasad said, speaking on behalf of the Indian delegation.

Spelling out country's stand, Hariprasad recalled earlier objections voiced by New Delhi on the inherent weakness of the report, including the fact that the report itself admits that its findings do not necessarily reach the standard of proof applicable in criminal trials.

He underlined that the report should have addressed its recommendations solely to the Human Rights Council in Geneva and not to other U.N. institutions, including the Security Council.

India has, however, supported the report's recommendation that calls for accountability when Hariprasad said all the concerned parties involved in the Gaza conflict need to introspect and take firm action against those responsible for violation of international humanitarian law and human rights in law in credible and speedy manner.

"We believe that the solution to the Palestine issue should be based on the relevant U.N. resolutions, the Arab peace plans and the Quartet road map," he added.

Expressing its "continuing commitment" to the Palestinian struggle, India said it had provided donation of USD one million to the U.N. Reliefs and Works Agency that provides humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has endorsed the Goldstone report and urged member-states to vote for the relevant resolution.

Speaking on behalf of the 118-member Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), U.N. Egyptian Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz, who introduced a draft resolution to the plenary session of the 64th General Assembly session, said the NAM urges the GA and other United Nations principal and subsidiary organs to seriously consider and act upon the report and findings of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Military Action.

The report, prepared by South African judge Richard Goldstone, accuses both Hamas and Israeli forces of war crimes in the Gaza strip during the 22-day Gaza conflict which broke out on December 27, 2008.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

Copyright(c) 2009 RTTNews.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved