New Delhi: In their first meeting since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar discussed the current situation in Gaza with the Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki and reaffirmed India’s support for the two-state solution.The two ministers met in the Ugandan capital Kampala on Saturday, where both sides are attending the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement.In a post on his official account on X, Jaishankar said that he had a “detailed and comprehensive discussion on the ongoing conflict in Gaza” with Al-Maliki.Stating that they exchanged views on its “humanitarian and political dimensions”, Jaishankar wrote that he also “reiterated India’s support for a two-state solution”.Good to meet with Palestinian FM Dr. Riyad al-Maliki in Kampala this afternoon.Had a detailed and comprehensive discussion on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Exchanged views on its humanitarian and political dimensions. Reiterated India’s support for a two-state solution.… pic.twitter.com/9GJNzPqqfg— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 20, 2024The two-state solution refers to the creation of an independent Palestinian state along Israel within secure borders.The meeting with Palestine comes a day after Jaishankar attempted to balance India’s unconditional condemnation of Hamas attacks in Israel with a reiteration of support for the Palestinian cause at the NAM summit.“We must also be clear that terrorism and hostage-taking are unacceptable. At the same time, international humanitarian law must always be respected by all States. It is also imperative that conflict does not spread within or beyond the region,” he said on Friday.On October 7 last year, Palestinian Islamist group, Hamas launched an attack from Gaza into southern Israel which killed over 1200 people and took around 240 as hostages.In Israel’s ongoing counterattack on Gaza, which included airstrikes and ground invasion, more than 24,000 people have been killed, with the remaining population facing chronic shortages of all food, fuel and water, as well as, medical facilities.Immediately after the October 7 attack, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed “solidarity’ with Israel. India started to nuance its position about a week later following the attack on a big hospital in Gaza, by referring to its principled traditional support for Palestine. However, India was still among the handful of developing countries that did not support the first UN General Assembly resolution on the conflict last October.India voted in favour of the second UN General Assembly resolution that called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza last month.However, it remains among few countries in the global south which still hasn’t explicitly called for a ceasefire in its national statements.This was apparent at Kampala, where Jaishankar’s speech had no mention of a ceasefire at the Gaza war, while this was a demand made by most speakers at the NAM summit.Speaking at the summit, the Palestinian foreign minister had asked the 120-member bloc to “halt the genocide and achieve justice for the Palestinian people”. He also urged the NAM member countries to support South Africa’s request to the International Court of Justice and actively participate in the second phase by presenting supportive arguments.India has, so far, conspicuously refrained from commenting on South Africa’s case against Israel in the ICJ. To a direct question on India’s position on the ICJ issue at a recent media briefing, the MEA spokesperson had only reiterated New Delhi’s position on the Gaza conflict.
