India has reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the safe and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid, and the unconditional release of hostages, as the humanitarian crisis in the region continues to deepen. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council’s quarterly open debate on the Middle East, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, underscored the urgent need for action beyond temporary pauses in hostilities.
“Intermittent pauses in hostilities are not enough to address the scale of humanitarian challenges confronting the people, who grapple daily with acute shortages of food and fuel, inadequate medical services and lack of access to education,” Harish said, warning that the worsening conditions in Gaza demand a comprehensive and lasting response.
Expressing serious concern over the collapse of essential services, Harish pointed out that, according to the World Health Organization, nearly 95 per cent of hospitals in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. He also cited a report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, stating that more than 650,000 children in the region have been without schooling for over 20 months.
Calling for decisive international intervention, Harish stated, “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 for peace. A ceasefire must be established. All hostages must be released. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable paths to achieving these objectives. There are no other fixes or solutions.”
Harish reaffirmed India’s long-standing support for the Palestinian cause, highlighting New Delhi’s deep and historic ties with the Palestinian people. “India shares historic and strong ties with our Palestinian brothers and sisters. We have always stood by them, and our commitment towards the Palestinian cause is unwavering. We were the first non-Arab country to recognise the State of Palestine,” he said.
India is currently supporting several development initiatives in Palestine, with projects worth over USD 40 million underway. These efforts include direct aid and collaborations with organisations such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), aimed at improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people.
Reiterating India's position on a long-term resolution to the conflict, Harish said, “India reiterates that the pathway to enduring peace is rooted in a two-State solution, one that establishes a sovereign, viable and independent State of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace.”
Also Read: Pakistan a ‘fanatic’, ‘serial borrower’: India at UNSC meeting
He also welcomed the announcement of a High-Level International Conference on the two-State solution, expressing hope that it would lead to concrete outcomes. “India underscores its readiness to contribute to efforts that are aimed at shaping a political horizon that restores hope for the Palestinians and achieving sustained peace in the Middle East,” Harish added.
Meanwhile, Israel responded strongly to criticism from several international organisations regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. In a statement, the Israeli foreign ministry accused these organisations of promoting Hamas propaganda. “These organisations are serving the propaganda of Hamas, using their numbers and justifying their horrors. Instead of challenging the terror organisation, they embrace it as their own,” the statement read. Israel also claimed that such statements were undermining ongoing ceasefire negotiations. “In this critical time of negotiations, they are echoing Hamas's propaganda and harming the chances for a ceasefire,” the ministry said.
According to the Israeli government, nearly 4,500 trucks carrying food, flour, and baby formula have entered Gaza. They added that over 700 aid trucks are currently inside the Gaza Strip, awaiting distribution by UN agencies. “This bottleneck is the main obstacle to maintaining a consistent flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. For some, the obsession with attacking Israel is more important than helping the people of Gaza,” the statement concluded.
Also Read: India a surging economy, Pakistan a borrower: Delhi at UN
Follow us
