'Innocent People Shouldn't Be...’: Rajnath Singh While Stressing India's 'Terrorism' Stance On Israel War

On Israel-Hamas War, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasised the need for global unity against terrorism while calling for a particular focus on safeguarding innocent lives.

Guwahati: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh when asked about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war on Monday (October 23), voiced India's strong opposition to terrorism and said that the whole world should stand unitedly against it. Minister Singh also said that innocent people should not be affected by the conflict. 

On being asked by media persons at Assam’s Tezpur on India’s stand on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Minister Singh said, “I am too against terrorism. I think the whole world should be united against terrorism. It should also be taken into consideration that innocent people do not get affected.”

Earlier on Monday, Defence Minister Singh reached Tezpur in Assam’s Sonitpur district on a two-day visit to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. After his arrival, Minister Singh interacted with the troops of the Indian Army during the “Barakhana” (big dinner), organised at the Headquarters of the Indian Army’s 4 Corps in Tezpur.

Defence Minister Singh after a night’s stay in Tezpur, will proceed to Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang on Tuesday (October 24) where he will celebrate Dussehra with the troops of the Indian Army and also perform Shastra Puja with them.

As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to ravage the Gaza Strip, India has made a significant humanitarian gesture by dispatching over 38 tonnes of relief supplies to the beleaguered Palestinian population. The initiative underscores mounting global concerns over the dire situation faced by civilians in the region.

This Sunday, India's aid efforts materialized as a C-17 transport aircraft from the Indian Air Force delivered the consignments to El-Arish airport in Egypt. This aid, consisting of vital medical supplies and equipment, is destined for the people of Palestine. International aid agencies have described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic, with the Israeli military responding to an unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 with retaliatory airstrikes.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi announced that the relief materials have been handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent for onward transmission to Palestine. The aid includes life-saving medicines, surgical items, tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, sanitary utilities, and water purification tablets, among other essential items.

India's gesture comes three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his condolences to the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, over the loss of civilian lives in a Gaza hospital. Modi reiterated India's longstanding principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue during the phone conversation. He also assured President Abbas that New Delhi would continue sending humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.

According to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health in the occupied West Bank, the conflict has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 5,087 lives and left 15,273 individuals injured in Gaza since the eruption of hostilities on October 7.