New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) India’s position towards Palestine has been long-standing, and New Delhi remains committed to advancing a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region, the government has informed Parliament.
In a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha on March 20, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh also said India attended the Board of Peace meeting held at the US Institute of Peace in Washington on February 19 as an “observer”.
The question and the response were uploaded on the Lok Sabha website on Monday.
The Board of Peace, unveiled by US President Donald Trump, is being projected by Washington as a new international body to usher in peace and stability in Gaza and beyond, and has triggered speculation that it may respond to other global conflicts as well.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was asked whether the government has assured Israel of its “firm support” and has also supported the Gaza Peace Initiative during the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel.
The MEA was also asked whether India had “stayed out of a statement” issued at a joint press conference of diplomats from more than 85 countries at the United Nations on February 17, criticising Israel’s plans to tighten control of territory in the West Bank.
It was also asked whether a day after India “skipped a joint appearance” with other countries at the United Nations to condemn Israel for its plans for West Bank settlement, India signed a joint statement on February 18.
“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid a State visit to Israel on February 25-26, 2026. During the visit, Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s support for the Gaza Peace Plan, which has been endorsed by the UN Security Council,” Singh said in his response.
“India’s position towards Palestine has been long-standing. India remains committed to advancing a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region,” he said.
The government further said that “in consonance with our position, India associated itself with the joint statement at the United Nations”.
The MEA was also asked whether India attended the Board of Peace meeting held in Washington as an observer and whether it still stood for a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine based on 1967 borders.
“India attended the Board of Peace meeting held at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC, USA on February 19, 2026, as an Observer,” Singh said.
The government said 26 countries participated as members in the meeting, while 22 countries, including India, participated as observers.
In his response, Singh shared the full list of participating countries. PTI KND DIV DIV
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