Israel-Hamas War: India In Favour Of Direct Talks To Establish Sovereign Palestine, Says Centre

The Ministry of External Affairs also said that India sees the Hamas assault on Israel as a terrorist attack.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi ( Image Source :ANI )

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, India reiterated its stand saying it has always advocated the resumption of direct talks for establishing a sovereign, viable state of Palestine living at peace with Israel. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also said India sees the Hamas assault on Israel as a terrorist attack.

Addressing the media on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “We have been very clear that we see it as a terrorist attack. As far as Palestine is concerned, India has advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing the sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised border side by side with Israel.”

Weighing in on how India views the current situation, the MEA spokesperson said, “There is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law, there is also a global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations – that accurately sums up how we look at it.”

Speaking on ‘Operation Ajay’, the rescue mission launched by India to bring back the stranded citizens home, Bagchi said a special chartered flight is expected to reach Israel later on Thursday evening and bring back around 230 Indians back by Friday morning.

"As announced by EAM on Wednesday, Operation Ajay has been launched to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to come back. The first charter flight will be reaching Tel Aviv later tonight to pick up the stranded Indian citizens and is likely to return to India tomorrow morning," Bagchi said at the press briefing.

The MEA spokesperson also said that India is closely monitoring the situation in Israel and also advised the Indian citizens to follow advisories issued by the Indian Embassy.

“Around 18,000 Indians are there in Israel. There is a conflict going on and it is a matter of concern. Indians are advised to follow advisories issued by our mission,” Bagchi added.