NB Explains | India's balancing act of diplomacy over Israel-Hamas war

New Delhi, Oct 20: In a significant development, PM Narendra Modi on October 19 expressed his condolences to Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, for the loss of Palestinian lives in their ongoing conflict with Israel.

 

PM Modi reiterated India's long-standing "principled position" on the Israel-Palestine issue in a phone conversation with Abbas, saying "We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people".

 

 

 

“Spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority H.E. Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. Shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region. Reiterated India’s long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

 

 

This came amid a worsening situation in Gaza, where a late Tuesday night blast at a hospital left hundreds of people dead. However, Israel has come forward with proof that it was Hamas who had launched a missile at the hospital.

 

PM Modi had reacted to the Gaza hospital incident. “Deeply shocked at the tragic loss of lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and prayers for speedy recovery of those injured. Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern. Those involved should be held responsible,” PM Modi said in a post on X – this was perceived as a message to both Israel and Hamas.

 

 

His remarks were in line with the statement earlier by the Ministry of External Affairs whose spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said there was an universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law, and also a global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

 

Earlier, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had dialled Modi to brief him on the Hamas attack of October 7 that triggered the fresh round of armed conflict between the two sides. With Israel pounding Gaza with air strikes, the Hamas-ruled Palestinian region is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with acute shortages of food, water and medicines.

 

After US President Joe Biden, UK PM Rishi Sunak met Israeli PM Netanyahu in Jerusalem, telling him, "We want you to win". He also warned Israel over the high civilian toll in its attacks on Gaza. On his two-day tour, Sunak left for Saudi Arabia for talks with the country's leadership to ensure the conflict does not spread to other parts of West Asia.

 

Israel ready to enter Gaza as Israel's defense minister Yoav Gallant told ground troops to be ready to enter the Gaza Strip, though he didn't say when the invasion will start. "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside," he said.

 

Delhi, in its first official statement on the Israel-Hamas war, had sought to balance its position. MEA spokesperson Bagchi, in response to questions at a weekly briefing, said, “We have strongly condemned the horrific terrorist attack on Israel, and we believe the international community must stand together in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”

 

“As regards Palestine, we have reiterated our long standing position of advocating the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel,” he said.