New Delhi: As a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in Gaza, Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar expressed gratitude to the Indian government for supporting Israel's "right" to self-defense. The ceasefire, which includes a deal for the release of hostages, marks a significant development after 15 months of conflict sparked by a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
“We thank the Indian government for supporting our right to self-defense, and we especially appreciate the overwhelming support of the Indian people,” Azar said in a video released by the Israeli embassy.
The ceasefire is expected to halt the ongoing violence in Gaza and pave the way for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Israel had launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza in retaliation for the October 7 attack.
India, while condemning the Hamas attack, consistently advocated for a ceasefire and called for direct peace negotiations toward a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue. Azar described the ceasefire agreement as a first step in a broader deal that could bring home the hostages and ensure Hamas is unable to carry out further attacks like the one on October 7.
He emphasized that peace would not be achieved if Hamas were allowed to “rearm and regroup.”
The ambassador also criticized Iran, calling its regime the “biggest threat to our region.”
India welcomed the Gaza ceasefire deal. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “We welcome the announcement of the agreement for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. We hope this will lead to a safe and sustained supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.”
With PTI inputs