UNITED NATIONS (TIP): At the United Nations Security Council’s quarterly open debate on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, India reiterated its unwavering support for the two-state solution and called on all parties to uphold their commitments under the recently signed Gaza Peace Agreement.
Addressing the Council, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, thanked Russia for convening the debate and welcomed the diplomatic breakthrough achieved at the Gaza Peace Summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13. The summit, which led to the signing of a landmark peace accord, was hailed by India as “a positive step toward lasting peace in the region.”
Ambassador Harish commended the United States, particularly President Donald Trump, for his “instrumental role” in facilitating the agreement, and also praised Egypt and Qatar for their contributions to the peace process. He emphasized that “dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to achieve peace” and cautioned against any unilateral moves that could derail ongoing efforts.
“Now is the time for all parties to support peace, not to derail it,” Harish stated, adding that the diplomatic momentum generated must be sustained through collective commitment and adherence to obligations under the accord.
Reiterating India’s long-standing stance on the Palestinian question, Ambassador Harish recalled that New Delhi has consistently condemned terrorism, called for an end to civilian suffering, demanded the release of hostages, and urged unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid—including food, fuel, and medical supplies—into Gaza. He said India viewed the Peace Agreement as a “catalyst” for achieving these humanitarian and political goals.
India, which recognized the State of Palestine in 1988, reaffirmed its support for the creation of “a sovereign, independent, and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security with Israel, within secure and recognized borders.” Harish said that the High-level Conference on the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held at the UN in September 2025 had underlined this path as the only pragmatic way forward.
A major component of India’s approach, the envoy noted, was support for the economic viability of the future Palestinian state. India has extended assistance worth over USD 170 million to the Palestinian people, including USD 40 million in ongoing projects, and has supplied 135 metric tons of medicines and relief materials over the past two years. “Aid is essential for rehabilitation and reconstruction, but it must be coupled with economic frameworks that foster investment, employment, and social development,” Harish observed.
Turning to the broader regional context, the Ambassador said peace and stability in Palestine would have “positive implications for the entire Middle East.” He urged all sides to ensure that the ceasefire holds and that negotiations continue in good faith.
Addressing developments in Syria, Harish underscored India’s support for a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process and noted the country’s recent dispatch of five metric tons of essential medicines to Syria in July 2025. He also paid tribute to Brigadier General Amitabh Jha, India’s Acting Force Commander in UNDOF, who made the supreme sacrifice in December 2024 while serving under the UN flag. India, he said, remains the third-largest contributor to UNDOF and the second-largest contributor to UNIFIL in Lebanon, reiterating the importance of ensuring the safety and security of UN peacekeepers.
On Yemen, Ambassador Harish expressed deep concern over the continuing humanitarian crisis, emphasizing that “assistance must be above politics” and reach civilians irrespective of affiliations. He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to facilitate humanitarian relief and reaffirmed India’s commitment to the safety of its nationals in Yemen.
Concluding his statement, Ambassador Harish said India’s vision for the Middle East rests on fundamental human principles — that “all people have the right to live normal lives, free from deprivation, indignity, and fear.”
“India stands fully ready,” he declared, “to contribute to the collective endeavor of realizing a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Middle East.”
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