Israel-Hamas conflict impacting maritime commercial traffic safety in Indian Ocean, India tells UNSC

A top Indian diplomat told members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday said that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas was impacting the maritime commercial traffic in the Indian Ocean. Addressing the UNSC Open Debate on the Middle East, R Ravindra, the Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, said the situation, which has witnessed attacks near India, raises significant concerns for the international community and directly affects India’s energy and economic interests. He emphasised the importance of preventing escalation and ensuring the continuous delivery of humanitarian aid in the region. He said India has consistently conveyed the message that the current situation is detrimental to all parties involved. The Deputy Permanent Representative welcomed the efforts of the UN and the international community in addressing the humanitarian crisis. He said India has taken concrete steps to assist the Palestinian people, delivering relief material to Gaza and providing USD 5 million, including a previous contribution of USD 2.5 million in December, to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This funding supports core programs and services, including education, healthcare, relief, and social services for Palestinian refugees, Ravindra added. Ravindra reiterated India’s enduring support for a Two-State solution, emphasising the need for the Palestinian people to live freely in an independent country within secure borders, taking into account Israel’s security needs. India firmly believes that only direct and meaningful negotiations between both sides on final status issues can lead to a lasting peace desired by the people of Israel and Palestine. In urging all parties to de-escalate, avoid violence, and refrain from provocative actions, Ravindra emphasised the importance of creating conditions for the early resumption of direct peace negotiations. The Deputy Permanent Representative of India emphasized that a Two-State solution is the key to achieving the desired and deserved enduring peace in the region. In her speech, Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights of the United States, called on Israeli leaders to take feasible precautions to minimise civilian harm in line with international law. She also emphasised Hamas’ role in unleashing the conflict and condemned attacks in the wider region by Iran and its proxies. Emphasising that the only guarantor of peace is a Two-State solution with Israel’s security guaranteed she called for a strong Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza, even if this was difficult to imagine. United Nations Secretary General Antnio Guterres told the Security Council that any refusal to accept the two-State solution by any party must be firmly rejected and stressed that Israeli leaders’ recent, clear and repeated rejection of a Two-State solution is unacceptable. The denial of the right to Statehood would indefinitely prolong the conflict, and a One-State solution huge Palestinian populations inside that State without any real sense of freedom, rights and dignity would be inconceivable. The only way to address the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians is through the Two-State formula, he underscored. Riyad Al-Maliki, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, said that Israeli leaders do not see our people as an empirical and political reality to coexist with, but as a demographic threat to get rid of through death, displacement or subjugation. The Israel’s representative, urged the council to shift its focus towards addressing the real, significant security threats in the Middle East, which is suffering from cancer the continuous threat posed by Hamas, which exploits international aid to turn Gaza into a war machine, as well as the genocidal goals of annihilating Israel pursued by Hamas during the 7 October events where over 1,200 Israelis were killed. Describing the council members’ calls for a ceasefire as shocking, he warned that any such measure would leave Hamas in power, allowing them to regroup and rearm while Israelis will face another attempted Holocaust. Stphane Sjourn, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Council President for January, speaking in his national capacity said that the Council has two possible options. The first is division, argument and fanning the flames the choice of those who invade their neighbour. His choice, however, would be the second option to stand alongside both Israelis and Palestinians, for peace and the good of both, which entails difficult things for both sides. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the council has not mounted an appropriate response to the situation due to the position of the United States. He called for a world order based not on Anglo-Saxon rules, but on international law with the United Nations playing a central role. Western countries want to focus on the day after the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as if the escalation in Gaza had already ceased, he pointed out, adding that the cunning logic of Western delegations is obvious, as they have blocked all council efforts to call for an acutely necessary ceasefire. With inputs from agencies