Shruti Suman
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was among the first global leaders to denounce the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel as an act of terrorism, has strongly condemned the recent strike on a hospital in Gaza that claimed the lives of 500 people. In a social media post on Wednesday, the Prime Minister expressed deep shock at the casualties resulting from the attack and extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
Amid the ongoing dispute between Israel and Palestine regarding accountability for the tragic hospital strike, PM Modi expressed his concerns about civilian casualties in the conflict and called for those responsible for the attack to be held accountable. He wrote that “I am deeply shocked by the tragic loss of lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for the swift recovery of those injured. Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and ongoing concern. Those involved should be held responsible,” as he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1714551508535296439?s=20
This statement coincided with the visit of US President Joe Biden to Israel, intended to show solidarity with the nation.
India’s Stance
Following Hamas’s launch of 5,000 rockets at Israel in a span of 20 minutes and a multi-pronged attack by land, air, and sea on October 7, PM Modi expressed his deep shock and India’s solidarity with Israel during a challenging period.
Israeli officials welcomed India’s condemnation of Hamas’s attacks, noting the goodwill generated during a time of growing closeness between India and Israel. They also highlighted the strong relationship between PM Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
PM Modi reiterated his support for Israel on October 10 when he thanked Mr. Netanyahu for providing an update on the conflict, expressing India’s firm stand against terrorism in all its forms.
Palestine Perspective
The messages of support were significant because India has traditionally supported the Palestinian cause. The conflict erupted at a time when India was positioning itself for a more prominent role in the Middle East, necessitating a delicate diplomatic balancing act.
Two days later, during a press conference, the Ministry of External Affairs clarified that the Prime Minister’s comments on the conflict stood on their own. When asked about India’s position on Palestine, spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that India had consistently advocated direct negotiations for an independent Palestinian state coexisting peacefully with Israel.
He added that “Our policy regarding Palestine has always been long-standing and unwavering. India has consistently supported the resumption of direct negotiations to establish a sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine, living in secure and recognized borders alongside Israel. This position remains unchanged.”
During his address at the G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit in New Delhi the same week, PM Modi underscored that terrorism, in any part of the world and in any form, goes against humanity and emphasized the need for peace and brotherhood. He called for a human-centric approach in moving forward, stressing that conflicts and confrontations anywhere in the world adversely affect everyone and benefit no one.
