India welcomes release of Israeli hostages by Hamas, calls for immediate, unconditional release of those remaining
The Hindu
India welcomes release of Israeli hostages by Hamas, calls for immediate, unconditional release of those still held. India has a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and supports a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security.
India has welcomed the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas and called for the immediate and unconditional release of those still held in captivity by the militant group, asserting that there can be no justifications for terrorism and hostage-taking.
Last week, an agreement was reached by Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Qatar supported by Egypt and the United States, to release Israeli and other foreign nationals taken as hostages by Hamas during the October 7 attacks. About 1,200 people were killed in the attack and 240 Israelis and other nationals were taken hostage by Hamas.
So far, over 60 Israeli and foreign nationals have been released by Hamas in five groups and Israel has in return freed about 150 Palestinian prisoners.
“We are gathered today at a time when the security situation in the Middle East is deteriorating due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, with large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and children and an alarming humanitarian crisis. This is clearly unacceptable and we have indeed strongly condemned the death of civilians,” India’s Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said on Nov. 28.
In her remarks to the U.N. General Assembly plenary meeting on ‘Question of Palestine and the Situation in the Middle East’, Ms. Kamboj said that in addressing this humanitarian crisis, it is necessary for all parties to display utmost responsibility.
“We are aware that the immediate trigger was the terror attacks in Israel on October 7, which were shocking and deserve our unequivocal condemnation. There can be no justification for terrorism and hostage-taking,” she said.
Ms. Kamboj said India welcomes the news of the release of the hostages, and also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the remaining hostages, underlining that the country’s thoughts are with those who have been taken as hostages.
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