In the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, India has called for a cessation of violence, urging both parties to de-escalate the situation and facilitate conditions for the early resumption of direct peace negotiations toward a two-state solution for the Palestine issue. India, without explicitly mentioning Hamas, has also stressed the "immediate and unconditional" release of hostages.
The conflict escalated with Hamas militants launching unprecedented and multi-pronged attacks on Israeli cities on October 7, prompting Israel to undertake a significant military offensive in Gaza. The toll on both sides has been severe, with Hamas claiming around 1,400 casualties in Israel and more than 220 hostages taken. In Gaza, the Israeli offensive has resulted in approximately 10,500 casualties, according to Hamas-run authorities.
India's stance on the conflict has been reiterated on various occasions, including during the UN General Assembly debate on October 27. The spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, condemned the attack on Israel, emphasized zero tolerance for terrorism, and called for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. He expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, highlighting the increasing civilian toll, and welcomed efforts to de-escalate the situation and provide humanitarian assistance.
“We have strongly condemned the horrific attack on Israel, urged the need for zero tolerance for terrorism and called for immediate and unconditional release of hostages,” Arindam Bagchi said.
“We have also conveyed our deep concern at the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the increasing civilian toll and welcomed efforts to de-escalate the situation and provide humanitarian assistance,” he added.
India has actively contributed to addressing the humanitarian crisis by sending 38 tonnes of relief material to Gaza. Bagchi underscored the importance of strict adherence to international humanitarian law. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has engaged in phone conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in an effort to address the escalating conflict.
Regarding reports of the Israeli construction industry considering the recruitment of 100,000 Indian workers to replace 90,000 Palestinians, Bagchi stated he was not aware of any specific requests from Tel Aviv. He mentioned India's broader initiative to give its citizens access to the global workplace through mobility agreements with various countries. While acknowledging the presence of Indian workers in Israel, especially in the care-giver sector, Bagchi clarified that discussions on a bilateral framework in the construction and care-giver sectors have been ongoing since 2022, but he was not privy to specific requests or numbers.
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