India expresses “great concern” over the situation in conflict-torn Gaza

Underscoring that the conflict in Gaza is a matter of “great concern”, India on Monday, February 2, said the humanitarian crisis arising from the conflicts requires a permanent solution that provides immediate relief to those most affected.

Addressing the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said terrorism and hostage-taking are not acceptable and hoped that the conflict would not spread within or outside the region.

India had strongly condemned the attack by Hamas on October 7 last year.

“At the same time, we must be clear that terrorism and hostage-taking are unacceptable,” he said in his address via video link from New Delhi.

He said that international humanitarian law should always be respected.

“It is important that the conflict does not spread within or outside the region,” he said. He said efforts should also focus on finding a two-state solution where the Palestinian people could live within Israel.

Speaking at an interactive session at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month, Jaishankar had highlighted India’s long-standing position on the Palestine issue.