During talks in the Rajya Sabha on December 5, 2024, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to a two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict. He underlined that India has supported this strategy, which calls for an independent Palestinian state to live in peace with Israel, in a straightforward and transparent manner.
In response to questions over India’s decision to abstain from some UN resolutions pertaining to the Gaza war, Jaishankar made the comments. He clarified that India abstained because the resolutions did not accurately represent the situation, especially by downplaying the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. “We thought the resolution was poorly written,” he said. We abstained because our concerns were not taken into consideration. India believes that any resolution to the crisis must address the crucial issues of terrorism and hostage-taking.
Jaishankar stressed that India now contributes $5 million annually to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), up from $1 million in previous administrations, as part of its humanitarian assistance efforts. In light of the current crisis, he pointed out that India had also given Lebanon and Palestine significant medical assistance.
Jaishankar’s remarks demonstrate India’s nuanced stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict in international diplomacy, striking a balance between acknowledging Israel’s security concerns and supporting Palestinian statehood.
