Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said that India believes in its long-standing support for the establishment of a “sovereign, independent and viable” state of Palestine.
Releasing a statement, MEA 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.”
This is the first official statement made by India on the Palestine issue after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched rocket attacks on Israel on October 7.
Mr. Bagchi categorically stated that India considers last Saturday’s strike against Israel a “terrorist attack”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had condemned terrorism and expressed solidarity with the Israeli people following the attack by Hamas on Saturday.
The official spokesperson said that there was a “universal obligation” to observe humanitarian law, but also emphasised the requirement to fight against international terrorism.
At the press conference, Arindam Bagchi was asked if India would be providing help to Israel in the form of weaponry. He said, “Right now, our main focus is to get Indians from Israel back safely.”
However, Mr. Bagchi did not give a clear answer to a journalist’s question on whether India considers Hamas a terror organisation. Saying that such a determination was the responsibility of other departments.
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