India has called for a full ceasefire in Gaza, stressing that temporary pauses in fighting are insufficient to address the growing humanitarian crisis. The country made its stance clear during a United Nations Security Council quarterly open debate on the Middle East situation.
Speaking at the forum, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish P., highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and the release of hostages.
“The way ahead is clear, and India has been consistent in this regard. The ongoing human suffering must not be allowed to continue. Humanitarian assistance needs to be facilitated in a safe, sustained and timely manner. There is no substitute to peace. A ceasefire must be put in place. All hostages must be released. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable paths to achieving these objectives. There are no other fixes or solutions,” he said.
India Reaffirms Support for Two-State Solution
India reaffirmed its long-standing support for a two-state solution, advocating for the establishment of a sovereign, viable, and independent Palestine that can peacefully coexist with Israel within secure and recognized borders.
Ambassador Harish emphasized that peace and diplomacy remain central to resolving the crisis and reiterated India’s consistent position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israeli Hostages Still Held in Gaza
India’s call comes as 49 of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel are still believed to be in Gaza. According to the Israeli military, 27 of them are presumed dead. The release of these hostages remains a key issue in ongoing truce negotiations.
Hamas Responds to Israeli Ceasefire Proposal
Hamas announced on Thursday that it had formally responded to an Israeli proposal for a 60-day ceasefire. The group submitted its position and that of other Palestinian factions to mediators after over two weeks of indirect talks in Qatar failed to reach a breakthrough.
“Hamas has just submitted its response and that of the Palestinian factions to the ceasefire proposal to the mediators,” the group said in a Telegram statement.
According to a Palestinian source involved in the talks, Hamas’s response includes suggested changes regarding the delivery of aid, territorial withdrawal maps for the Israeli army, and guarantees to ensure a permanent end to hostilities.
