The government has said that India’s policy towards Palestine has been long-standing and it has always supported a negotiated two-state solution, towards the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine within secure and recognized borders, living side by side in peace with Israel. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said, India has strongly condemned the terror attacks on Israel on 7th October 2023 and also the loss of civilian lives in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. He said, India remains concerned about the security situation and has called for a ceasefire, release of all hostages and peaceful resolution of conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. The Minister said India has emphasized the need for safe, timely and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine. He said India’s voting on UN resolutions on the issue of Israel and Palestine has been in line with its stated policy. Mr Singh said, India has voted in favour of 54 resolutions and abstained on 8 resolutions over the last five years, related to the Israel – Palestine issue in UNGA. This includes 13 resolutions concerning Palestine that were brought in UNGA since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict, out of which India voted in favour of 10 resolutions and abstained on 3 resolutions. He said, there was no resolution specific to the Israel-Palestine issue during India’s membership of the Security Council in 2021-22.
Replying to another question, Mr Singh said India remains concerned by the evolving situation in West Asia and its ramifications for peace and stability in the region and beyond. He said India has called for de-escalation, restraint, and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.
The Minister said, that Indian Embassies in the region are constantly following the situation and are in touch with relevant authorities and the Indian community in their respective countries to ensure their safety and security, including through the issue of timely travel advisories. He said, attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea threaten freedom of navigation and impact the trade. Mr Singh said the government is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy that includes diversifying supply sources, enhancing domestic oil and gas production, expanding the adoption of alternate energy sources and advancing the energy transition.
