The recently signed Gaza Peace Agreement is a \u201clandmark\u201d step towards stability in the Middle East, India has said, reiterated that a two-state solution remains \u201cthe only pragmatic path\u201d to achieving durable peace between Israel and Palestine.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the United Nations Security Council\u2019s quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East on Thursday, India\u2019s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said, \u201cIt is India\u2019s earnest desire to realise the vision of a stable and peaceful Middle East\u2026 deprivation and indignity cannot be part of daily life; civilians must not die due to conflict.\u201d India stands fully ready to contribute to this endeavour, he said.<\/p>\n
Harish said New Delhi hoped the \u201cpositive diplomatic momentum\u201d generated by the peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh earlier this month would lead to \u201clasting peace in the region\u201d.<\/p>\n
Welcoming the signing of the \u201clandmark\u201d peace deal, the envoy lauded the US, \u201cespecially\u201d President Donald Trump, for playing an instrumental role in forging the deal, and also commended Egypt and Qatar for their contributions.<\/p>\n
Reiterating India\u2019s longstanding position, Harish said, \u201cThe two-state solution is the only pragmatic path.\u201d \u201cNow is the time for all parties to support ongoing peace efforts, rather than to derail them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
India has consistently advocated a sovereign, independent, viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with Israel, within secure and recognised borders.<\/p>\n
\u201cDialogue and diplomacy, and the two-state solution, are the means to achieve peace. The landmark initiative of the United States has generated diplomatic momentum towards peace, and all parties must adhere to their obligations in this regard,\u201d Harish said, adding that India is firmly opposed to any unilateral moves by parties concerned.<\/p>\n
The ambassador recalled that since the October 7, 2023 conflict, India had consistently condemned terrorism, called for an end to civilian suffering, demanded the release of hostages, and stressed the need for unimpeded humanitarian aid to Gaza.<\/p>\n
He said India viewed the new peace agreement as \u201can enabler and a catalyst\u201d for these objectives.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe short-term gains of the recent diplomatic outcomes must pave the way for medium to long-term political commitments and practical action on the ground towards the realisation of a two-state solution,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Underscoring India\u2019s support for the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination, the envoy referred to last month\u2019s UN high-level conference on implementing the two-state solution, saying it had \u201cunderlined the way forward\u201d.<\/p>\n
On the humanitarian front, Harish noted that India had extended over USD 170 million in total support to Palestine, including USD 40 million worth of ongoing projects and 135 metric tons of medicines and relief supplies in the past two years.<\/p>\n
\u201cPalestinian people cannot rebuild their lives without the support of the international community,\u201d he said, calling for the creation of economic frameworks conducive to investment and employment.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeace and calm on the Palestinian front have implications for the wider region\u2026 Talks must continue and there must be abiding faith in the efficacy of dialogue and diplomacy,\u201d Harish said.<\/p>\n
Harish also touched upon broader regional issues, including Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, underlining India\u2019s continuing humanitarian and peacekeeping contributions.<\/p>\n
On Syria, he reaffirmed India\u2019s backing for a \u201cSyrian-led, Syrian-owned political process\u201d and paid tribute to Brigadier General Amitabh Jha, who was killed while serving as Acting Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in December 2024.<\/p>\n
India is the third-largest troop contributor to UNDOF.<\/p>\n
He also stressed the safety of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, where India is the second-largest contributor to UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), and expressed hope that the Lebanese Armed Forces would soon take full control once the mission\u2019s sunset clause takes effect in 2026. Harish also called for an \u201cimmediate cessation of hostilities\u201d in Yemen to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians, saying such assistance \u201cmust be above politics\u201d. (Agencies)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The recently signed Gaza Peace Agreement is a \u201clandmark\u201d step towards stability in the Middle East, India has said, reiterated that a two-state solution remains \u201cthe only pragmatic path\u201d to achieving durable peace between Israel and Palestine. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council\u2019s quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5133,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5134","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-international"},"yoast_head":"\n