Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 10: Palestine’s Ambassador to India, Abdullah Abu Shawesh, on Thursday called on New Delhi to take a leading role in ending the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and in shaping the post-war future of the region. He said India’s political influence and ties with Israel uniquely position it to help “put an end to the Palestinian suffering.”
In an extended interview with NDTV, Abu Shawesh described India as a natural “champion of the Global South”, urging pointedly: “If it is not you, then who? If it is not India, then who?” He asked New Delhi to use its relationship with Israel constructively, including pressing for accountability and playing a central role in Gaza’s reconstruction.
The ambassador painted a harrowing picture of the humanitarian collapse in Gaza. “The 67,000 Palestinians who were killed… are utterly, purely civilians, not belonging to Hamas,” he said, citing victim lists and photographs. He also highlighted widespread malnutrition and medical breakdowns, stating, “We are talking about **500 children who still now lost their lives because of malnutrition and lack of food… Many of the surgeries went without anesthesia. For children, they amputated their legs and arms without anesthesia.”
Abu Shawesh described the violence as fitting the definition of genocide, citing international bodies and Israeli watchdogs, and called for global pressure to end the campaign. Addressing criticisms that dismantling Hamas is necessary to prevent future attacks, he challenged prevailing narratives: “If you call Hamas terrorists, I have no problem with that… But what are you going to call the Israeli occupation? If the occupation itself is… a very clear indication of terror, what is the meaning of the terror?”.
The ambassador reiterated that a future Palestinian state would allow no militias or parallel armed actors, emphasizing that Hamas’s origins were shaped by broader regional policies, and blamed Israeli policies for strengthening the group at various points.
Turning to India, Abu Shawesh recalled historical ties, including Mahatma Gandhi’s opposition to Partition, India’s recognition of Palestine in 1988, and the country’s recent supportive votes in international forums. He described popular support across Indian political parties and regions, and noted ongoing engagements with political leaders and civil society groups. On terrorism affecting India, he affirmed that the Palestinian leadership condemned attacks on Indian soil, citing a letter of solidarity from President Mahmoud Abbas after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Beyond political appeal, Abu Shawesh made a practical plea for India to leverage its diplomatic influence and development capacity to alleviate Gaza’s immediate humanitarian crisis and help shape a two-state solution that guarantees legitimate security for Palestinians and prevents the re-emergence of militias.
As India navigates its deepening ties with Israel alongside its long-standing support for Palestine, the ambassador’s intervention highlights how New Delhi’s moral standing and geopolitical clout are being sought to address one of the world’s most acute humanitarian crises.