 "The Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, said that India has right to self-defence. Image courtesy: @ReuvenAzar/X")
Israeli ambassador Reuven Azar has welcomed India to be a part of US President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the war in the Gaza Strip and rebuild the Palestinian enclave. He said India has a lot to offer to the initiative.
Trump on Monday released a 20-point proposal to end the war in Gaza and rebuild the enclave. The plan seeks to oust Hamas as Gaza’s ruler, rebuild the enclave, establish a transitional administration of technocrats, and eventually hand over the strip to Palestinian Authority (PA).
In an interview with Firstpost’s sister channel CNN-News 18, Azar said that the initiative to end the war and remove Hamas from power was a first of its kind.
Azar said, “There is international consensus. For the first time, we are seeing Arab countries, Muslim countries, and the international community —India and other players— joining in this vision and it’s a realistic vision and there’s also a very clear alternative if Hamas doesn’t accept. So, we are hopeful that this common vision to end the war will create necessary pressures needed in order for Hamas to accept it.”
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More ShortsAzar said that the Arab League has also come around to realise the need to remove Hamas from power in Gaza.
Azar welcomes India to join Gaza plan, thanks PM Modi
Azar thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for welcoming Trump’s plan for Gaza. He said there are many ways that India can join the initiative.
Azar said, “India has a lot to offer both in terms of friendship with the Palestinians and assistance in economic projects. India has been a contributor to multinational forces in our region. This time, we want that involvement will actually be effective. It can be construction. It can be other elements. It depends on how India is going to engage with the force that is going to be created there, so it’s too soon to tell. We first of all have to see that this plan is implemented.”
Earlier in the day, Modi welcomed Trump’s plan and said it was a step towards reaching long-term peace and security for not just Israelis and Palestinians but the region at large.
Azar further said that the “the speedy response by Prime Minister Modi is a testament of the how we see common principles and common ideology, how we reject terrorism and how we want to create a situation in which we not only achieve security but also prosperity”.
Azar further said, “This plan actually details how we are going to achieve prosperity because not only Israelis but also Palestinians deserve to live in peace and therefore the fact that India is supporting that gives me hope that we can succeed and that India can involve itself to the degree.”