Gaza peace deal 'landmark' step towards stability in Middle East, India tells UN

The recently signed Gaza peace accord is a “landmark” step towards stability in the Middle East, India said, reiterating that a two-state solution remains “the only pragmatic path” to achieve lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. Speaking at the UN Security Council’s quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East on Thursday, India’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said: “It is India’s earnest desire to realize the vision of a stable and peaceful Middle East… hardship and humiliation cannot be part of daily life; civilians must not die.” India is fully ready to contribute to this endeavour, he said. Harish said New Delhi hoped the “positive diplomatic momentum” generated by the peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh earlier this month would lead to “lasting peace in the region”. The envoy welcomed the signing of the “landmark” peace deal and praised the US, “especially” President Donald Trump, for playing an instrumental role in bringing about the agreement, and also praised Egypt and Qatar for their contributions. Reiterating India’s long-standing position, Harish said, “The two-state solution is the only pragmatic path.” “Now is the time for all parties to support ongoing peace efforts, rather than derail them,” he said. India has consistently advocated a sovereign, independent, viable state of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with Israel, within secure and recognized borders. “Dialogue and diplomacy, and the two-state solution, are the means to achieve peace. The landmark initiative of the United States has generated diplomatic momentum towards peace, and all parties must honor their commitments in this regard,” Harish said, adding that India was strongly opposed to any unilateral moves by parties involved. The ambassador recalled that since the October 7, 2023 conflict, India has consistently condemned terrorism, called for an end to civilian suffering, demanded the release of hostages and stressed the need for unimpeded humanitarian aid to Gaza. He said India sees the new peace deal as “an enabler and a catalyst” for these goals. “The short-term gains of the recent diplomatic outcomes must pave the way for medium- to long-term political commitments and practical action on the ground towards the realization of a two-state solution,” he said. To underline India’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, the envoy referred to last month’s UN high-level conference on the implementation of the two-state solution, saying it “underlined the way forward”. On the humanitarian front, Harish noted that in the last two years, India has provided more than USD 170 million in total support to Palestine, including USD 40 million in ongoing projects and 135 metric tons of medicine and relief supplies. “Palestinian people cannot rebuild their lives without the support of the international community,” he said, calling for the creation of economic frameworks conducive to investment and employment. “Peace and calm on the Palestinian front have implications for the wider region… Talks must continue and there must be lasting faith in the efficacy of dialogue and diplomacy,” Harish said. Harish also touched on broader regional issues, including Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, underscoring India’s continued humanitarian and peacekeeping contributions. On Syria, he reaffirmed India’s support for a “Syrian political process owned by Syria” and paid tribute to Brigadier General Amitabh Jha, who was killed while serving as acting force commander of the United Nations Disengaged Observer Force (UNDOF) in December 2024. India is the third largest contributor to UNDOF troop. He also emphasized the security of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, where India is the second largest contributor to UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon), and expressed hope that the Lebanese army would soon take full control once the mission’s sunset clause comes into effect in 2026. says such assistance “must be above politics”. Disclaimer: This story was published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the heading has been changed.