Universal obligation to observe humanitarian law…fight menace of terrorism: MEA

On October 7, hours after the Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a statement on X expressing his deep shock at the “terrorist attacks” and that “we stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.”

Five days later, in its first official statement on the Israel-Hamas war, New Delhi has sought to nuance this.

Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in response to questions at the weekly briefing, said that there is a “universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law,” and there is also a global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The phrase — “universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law” — is seen as aimed at Israel which is conducting aerial strikes in Gaza. The clause, “international humanitarian law,” also seeks to protect innocent civilians and so this is meant for Hamas, which killed civilians including women, children and the elderly.

The targeted attacks against Israeli civilians have claimed 1,300 lives on the Israeli side, and the death toll in Gaza because of Israeli air strikes rose to more than 1,350, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The formulation, “global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” is a strong signal of support to Israel.

Significantly, Modi had also said that India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, in his tweets as well as during his phone conversation with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members.

New Delhi also reiterated its traditional position on the Israel-Palestine conflict, as the MEA spokesperson said India has advocated the resumption of “direct negotiations” towards establishing a “sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel”.

Bagchi said, “Our policy in this regard has been long standing and consistent. India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel.”

India is also sending a chartered flight today to bring back about 230 Indian nationals, who are expected to return Friday when another flight may be sent. There are about 18,000 Indians in Israel, and about 16 in Palestine — a dozen in the West Bank and 3-4 people in Gaza, the MEA spokesperson said.

The reiteration of the Indian position on Palestine is the first official comments from Delhi, after the PMO statement on the phone call between Modi and Netanyahu was reiterated by the MEA Tuesday.

Modi’s second post on the issue came on Tuesday at 2.38 pm when he received a phone call from Netanyahu. “People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he tweeted.

The spokesperson’s statements are a part of Delhi’s diplomatic imperatives as it has Israel as a key strategic partner on one side and allies in a divided Arab world on the other including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Iran and Egypt.

There are an estimated 90 lakh Indians living and working in the West Asia region, and India imports more than 50 per cent of crude from the region.

The Hamas attack has divided the Arab world, too. The UAE and Bahrain, which signed the US-brokered Abraham Accords with Israel, have criticised the attack in a rare departure from the past, where usually the entire Arab world would speak in a chorus against Israel.

Saudi Arabia has tried to strike a balance: it did mention “Israeli occupation forces” and was perceived to be leaning towards Palestine but there was no condemnation of the Hamas attacks. Qatar, Kuwait and Oman have been critical of Israel.