External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing the first ministerial meeting for strategic dialogue between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held in Riyadh on Monday, said the ongoing conflict in Gaza is India’s “primary concern.” He called for an immediate ceasefire in the region, where hostilities between Israel and Hamas have persisted for nearly a year.
Jaishankar reiterated India’s firm stance against terrorism and hostage-taking, and expressed grief over the loss of civilian lives. “The current situation in Gaza is understandably of paramount concern to us. India’s stance in this regard has been consistent and principled. While we condemn acts of terrorism and hostage-taking, we are deeply pained by the continued deaths of innocent civilians,” he said.
Jaishankar said any response must take into account the principles of humanitarian law. “We support a ceasefire as soon as possible,” he added.
The minister highlighted the October 7 attack by Hamas, which rules Gaza, which resulted in a large number of Israeli casualties and kidnappings. In retaliation, the Israeli counter-offensive has caused considerable destruction and a high death toll in Gaza. Despite these developments, efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have been unsuccessful.
Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue and mentioned India’s contributions to Palestinian institution-building and capacity-building. He also highlighted India’s increased support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) amid the humanitarian crisis.
The GCC, comprising the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, has significant influence, with India’s trade volume with these nations reaching $184.46 billion in the financial year 2022-23. Jaishankar expressed satisfaction at participating in the strategic dialogue and stressed the importance of the meeting beyond brainstorming, with the aim of achieving a future-oriented partnership between India and the GCC.
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