New Delhi: Four days after an Israeli strike on Rafah became the latest flashpoint in the Gaza war, the Indian government has broken its silence and expressed concern over the situation while also noting that Israel is probing the incident.
New Delhi also appears to welcome the landmark decision by three European countries — Ireland, Spain and Norway — to recognise Palestine, stating that “what they are doing now, we already did in the 1980s”.
“The heartbreaking loss of civilian lives in the displacement camp in Rafah is a matter of deep concern for us,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a press conference Thursday. India has consistently called for protection of the civilian population and respect for international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict, he noted.
“We also note that the Israeli side has already accepted responsibility for it as a tragic incident, and announced an investigation into the incident,” said the spokesperson.
On 26 May, an Israeli air strike at a displacement camp in Rafah created a blaze that killed over 50 people. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the strike a “tragic mistake” and vowed to launch an investigation into whether it was a targeted attack.
The strike on Rafah triggered an emergency UN Security Council meeting and saw several countries like France, Turkey, Qatar, Qatar, Kuwait, Spain and Norway criticising Israel. Germany too, one of Israel’s staunchest supporters, issued a sharp response, with foreign minister Annalena Baerbock saying international humanitarian law applies for all, including “Israel’s conduct of the war”.
The US, meanwhile, said the incident would not change its Israel policy and did not cross a red line for Washington.
Certain countries have begun recognising Palestine statehood, such as Spain, Ireland and Norway, but the Indian government said it has been ahead of the curve in this respect.
“India recognised Palestine way back in the 1980s. It has been a long-standing position that we support a two-state solution which entails the establishment of a sovereign, viable and independent state of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders living side by side with Israel in peace,” said the MEA spokesperson.
“What they are doing now, we already did in the 1980s,” he added.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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Going ahead, several countries will move their engagement with Israel to a lower visible profile.