Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently confirmed that his country was ready to join any peace talks in order to end the ongoing armed conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas Movement in the Gaza Strip. Talking to the UK-based Financial Times in the last week of 2023, the Prime Minister said: “I remain in touch with the leaders in the region. If there is anything India can do to take forward efforts towards peace, we will certainly do so.” Prime Minister Modi further said that India would continue sending humanitarian aid to Gaza, stressing that the South Asian nation was committed to supporting the Palestinian cause while maintaining a close partnership with Israel. At the same time, he urged Tel Aviv to accept the Two-State Solution so that Israel and Palestine could co-exist peacefully.

It may be noted that India’s historical stance as a staunch supporter of Palestinian Rights has evolved under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Jewish State in 2017. Despite India’s closer ties with Israel, Modi has asserted the readiness of New Delhi to contribute to peace efforts in strife-torn Gaza.

Although India is eager to help both Israel and Palestine resolve the crisis, the two parties are still not ready to compromise. Hamas has made clear that it will not exchange any prisoners unless the Israeli attack on Gaza is completely stopped. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu has said that he, too, will not enter into a ceasefire until the complete destruction of the Palestinian outfit.

Meanwhile, northern Gaza has already been reduced to rubble due to Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023. According to the United Nations, there is not a single operational hospital in the northern part of Gaza. Dr Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO Representative in the West Bank and Gaza, has stated: “There are actually no functional hospitals left in the north. Al-Ahli (Hospital) was the last one, but it is now minimally functional… still treating patients, but not admitting new ones.” According to Dr Peeperkorn, there is no fuel, electricity, medical equipment, nurses or doctors at Al-Ahli.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have intensified attacks on Khan Yunis, one of the most important cities in southern Gaza, over the past few days. In the last week of 2023, they ordered the Palestinians to evacuate 20% of the area of central and southern Khan Yunis. Earlier, residents of northern Gaza flocked to the south in search of safe haven. Now, the Israeli Forces are also targeting the south. Tel Aviv has claimed that the IDF gunned down a Hamas leader in Khan Yunis a couple of days ago.

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das