Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 4: Palestinian Ambassador to India Abdullah M Abu Shawesh has strongly criticised the growing reliance on military might in resolving international disputes, terming it “jungle law” that benefits only those with superior weaponry while leaving defenceless nations without a viable future.

In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Abu Shawesh expressed concern over statements from major powers suggesting that the window for negotiations had closed.

“When anyone talks about the time for negotiation being over, it means they will rely on muscle and weapons. This is utterly against international law,” he said.

He argued that such an approach disproportionately harms countries in the Global South. “This is jungle law. It favours those who have superior weapons and strips others of any meaningful future,” he remarked.

Referring to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the envoy said Israel had earlier opportunities to secure the release of hostages without widespread destruction but instead opted for prolonged military operations.

“Iran-US war will affect not only Palestinians but everyone worldwide in the long run. But for the Palestinian issue, of course, all eyes right now are following what is happening between Iran, the United States and Israel. Everyone is turning their back, or semi-turning their back, to the Palestinian question,” he said.

He described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, now extending beyond 880 days since its intensification, as a “devastating genocidal war” continuing with reduced global scrutiny.

On groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah that receive Iranian support, Abu Shawesh said resistance to Israeli occupation takes different forms.

“Each Palestinian will not accept the Israeli occupation. There are many methods to resist. Some are military, which Hamas talks about, and we are not in agreement with. There is a diplomatic method, or Gandhian method of peaceful resistance,” he explained.

Speaking about Gaza’s immediate future, the ambassador accused Israel of accelerating steps to make life unlivable for Palestinians, including financial measures aimed at weakening the Palestinian Authority.

“Israel is already accelerating its operations. Every single day they are taking tens of hundreds of measures against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza to make our life unlivable, to force us to leave our homeland,” he alleged.

• India, which maintains historical ties with Palestine while also engaging Israel, has consistently advocated dialogue and a two-state solution amid the ongoing crises in West Asia.