With Israel’s military offensive in retaliation to last month’s attacks by Hamas reaching one of the major hospitals in the Gaza Strip, India Thursday called for de-escalating the situation and underlined the need for observing international humanitarian law in the face of increasing civilian casualties in the conflict.
Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, when asked about New Delhi’s view on Israeli troops undertaking an operation at the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, said the issue is not about one particular facility and that India has always underlined the need for following international law.
“The issue is not about one facility or a specific facility. India has always underlined the need for civilian casualties to be avoided, for humanitarian law to be observed, and to encourage any efforts to provide humanitarian relief to those caught in the conflict,” he said.
“We have also, on the larger issue, talked about efforts to de-escalate the situation, deliver humanitarian assistance, our concern at the humanitarian (situation and) increasing civilian toll,” he said.
Israel troops continued their operation at the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Wednesday night. Israel has been maintaining that the hospital was being used as a base by Hamas.
He also said that India is looking at sending more humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.
“We had also talked about how India had sent 38 tonnes of humanitarian relief materials. We are looking to send more assistance,” he said.
Bagchi said that India strongly condemned the attacks by Hamas on Israel.
“We had also strongly condemned the horrific terrorist attack on October 7 and our zero tolerance for terrorism and the need for immediate and unconditional release of the hostages,” he added.
