New York [US], July 24 (ANI): India has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages to address the escalating crisis in the region. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council’s quarterly open debate on the Middle East, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, stressed that temporary pauses in hostilities are insufficient to address the worsening humanitarian conditions.
“Intermittent pauses in hostilities are not enough to address the scale of humanitarian challenges confronting the people, who grapple daily with acute shortages of food and fuel, inadequate medical services, and lack of access to education,” Harish said.
He raised serious concern over the deteriorating healthcare and education systems in Gaza, noting that the World Health Organization estimates approximately 95 percent of all hospitals in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. Additionally, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported that over 650,000 children have been without schooling for more than 20 months.
“The ongoing human suffering must not be allowed to continue. Humanitarian assistance needs to be facilitated in a safe, sustained, and timely manner. There is no substitute for peace. A ceasefire must be established. All hostages must be released. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable paths to achieving these objectives. There are no other fixes or solutions,” Harish emphasized.
Reiterating India’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause, Harish stated, “India shares historic and strong ties with our Palestinian brothers and sisters. We have always stood by them, and our commitment towards the Palestinian cause is unwavering. We were the first non-Arab country to recognize the State of Palestine.”
He added that India is currently implementing development projects worth over USD 40 million to support the Palestinian people through direct aid and partnerships with organizations such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
“India reiterates that the pathway to enduring peace is rooted in a two-State solution—one that establishes a sovereign, viable, and independent State of Palestine within recognized and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace,” Harish said.
He also welcomed the upcoming High-Level International Conference on the two-State solution and expressed hope that it would lead to “concrete steps” toward lasting peace.
“India underscores its readiness to contribute to efforts that are aimed at shaping a political horizon that restores hope for the Palestinians and achieves sustained peace in the Middle East,” he added.
Meanwhile, Israel rejected statements made by several international organizations regarding the supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza. In a statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry accused these organizations of “serving the propaganda of Hamas.”
“These organizations are serving the propaganda of Hamas, using their numbers and justifying their horrors. Instead of challenging the terror organization, they embrace it as their own,” the ministry said.
Israel further stated that such remarks are undermining ongoing ceasefire negotiations. “In this critical time of negotiations, they are echoing Hamas’s propaganda and harming the chances for a ceasefire.”
According to Israeli officials, nearly 4,500 trucks carrying food, flour, and baby formula have entered Gaza, with more than 700 aid trucks currently inside the region awaiting pickup by the United Nations.
“This bottleneck is the main obstacle to maintaining a consistent flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. For some, the obsession with attacking Israel is more important than helping the people of Gaza,” the statement said.
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