In call with Abbas, PM Modi condoles Gaza hospital deaths, reiterates India stand on Israel-Palestine issue

Spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority H.E. Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. Shared our deep concern at the terrorism,…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 19, 2023

“Spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority H.E. Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. Shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region. Reiterated India’s long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue,” Modi said in a post on X.

The Palestinians have blamed an Israeli missile strike for the deaths at the Al Ahli Hospital while Israel has maintained that a rocket launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad had misfired and landed on the hospital, resulting in casualties.

A day earlier, Modi had reacted to the Gaza hospital incident. “Deeply shocked at the tragic loss of lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and prayers for speedy recovery of those injured.”

“Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern. Those involved should be held responsible,” he said in a post on X – this was perceived as a message to both Israel and Hamas.

His remarks were in line with the statement earlier by the Ministry of External Affairs whose spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said there was an universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law, and also a global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Modi’s call to Abbas came days after he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend solidarity. On October 10, Modi thanked Netanyahu “for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation” and said  “people of India stand in solidarity with Israel in this difficult hour”.

He said “India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”.

Later, Delhi, in its first official statement on the Israel-Hamas war, had sought to balance its position. MEA spokesperson Bagchi, in response to questions at a weekly briefing, said, “We have strongly condemned the horrific terrorist attack on Israel, and we believe the international community must stand together in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”

“As regards Palestine, we have reiterated our long standing position of advocating the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel,” he said.

“We have also expressed our concern at the civilian casualties due to the ongoing conflict. We also remain concerned about the humanitarian situation. We would urge the full respect and strict observance of international humanitarian law.”

Thursday’s phone call to Abbas is seen as a balancing act, as the phrase – “universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law” – is aimed at Israel which has been conducting aerial strikes in Gaza, as well as Hamas which killed Israeli civilians including women, children and the elderly.

For Delhi, the diplomatic challenge was to balance between the many sides in West Asia where India has deep strategic ties with Israel on the one hand, and Saudi, UAE, Qatar, Iran and Egypt – to name a few – on the other hand.