India welcomes Israel-Hamas ceasefire: ‘Hope this will lead to a safe and sustained supply of humanitarian assistance to Gaza’

Hamas and Israel have reached the ceasefire deal that mediators said would take effect on Sunday. Hostages taken by Hamas, which controls Gaza, would be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoner held by Israel.

The complex phased accord outlines a six-week initial ceasefire with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, where 46,000 people have been killed in the conflict, according to Gaza authorities.

India has always maintained that there should be diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the crisis and it has called for a ceasefire. India had condemned the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas and called for humanitarian assistance for the civilians in Gaza.

New Delhi’s statement is in sync with its earlier approach, according to sources. However, India is cautiously optimistic that this deal will hold in a fragile atmosphere where Israel has had the upper hand over Hamas, as it killed the top leadership of the group. That this deal comes in the closing days of the Joe Biden administration also means that a lot of diplomatic capital of the outgoing US administration was put at stake, so that they could claim credit before the Donald Trump administration took charge.

At a news conference in Doha, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said negotiators are working with Israel and Hamas on steps for implementing the deal.

“This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity,” US President Joe Biden said.