Washington D.C., Jan 24:
he ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas is impacting the safety of maritime commercial traffic in the Indian Ocean, including some attacks in the vicinity of India, a top Indian diplomat told members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
“The ongoing conflict is also impacting the safety of maritime commercial traffic in the Indian Ocean, including some attacks in the vicinity of India,” R. Ravindra, the Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations said in his remarks during a UNSC Open Debate on the Middle East.
“This is a matter of great concern to the international community and has a direct bearing on India’s own energy and economic interests. This fraught situation is not to the benefit of any party, and this must be clearly recognised,” Ravindra said.
Ravindra said the message that India has conveyed since the start of this conflict is clear and consistent – it is important to prevent escalation, to ensure continued delivery of humanitarian aid. The humanitarian situation needs to be addressed in earnest, he said, adding that India welcomes the efforts of the UN and international community in this regard.
India, he said, has delivered shipments of relief material to the Palestinian people in Gaza. We have also provided $ 5 million, including the USD 2.5 million we provided in end December, to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which will go to support the Agency’s core programmes and services, including education, healthcare, relief and social services provided to Palestinian refugees.
Reiterating India’s long-standing support for a Two-State solution where the Palestinian people are able to live freely in an independent country within secure borders, with due regard to the security needs of Israel, Ravindar said India firmly believes that only a Two-State solution, achieved through direct and meaningful negotiations between both sides on final status issues, will deliver an enduring peace that the people of Israel and Palestine desire and deserve.
For this, we urge all parties to de-escalate, eschew violence, avoid provocative and escalatory actions, and work towards creating conditions for an early resumption of direct peace negotiations,” he said.
