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Jaishankar Speaks To Palestine PM, Reiterates India Position

By LokMarg 9th December 2023

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Saturday. Jaishankar reiterated India’s long-standing position on Palestine.

During the telephonic conversation, Mohammad Shtayyeh expressed deep concern on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. The two leaders agreed to remain in touch.

Taking to X, Jaishankar stated, “Spoke to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh this evening. He expressed deep concern on the situation in both Gaza and the West Bank. Reiterated India’s long-standing position on Palestine. Agreed to remain in touch.”

India’s position regarding the Palestine issue has been “longstanding and consistent,” Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi said in a press briefing on October 12.

Arindam Bagchi said, “India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders side by side at peace with Israel. That position remains the same.”

Earlier in October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas and expressed his condolences over the loss of lives at Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza.

PM Modi also reaffirmed India’s commitment to provide the Palestinian people with humanitarian assistance while reiterating India’s long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue.

“Spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority H.E. Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people,” posted PM Modi on X.

Notably, the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues, as the Israel Defence Forces said its 98th Division continues to fight with Hamas in Gaza’s Khan Younis. The Israeli Air Force carried out strikes on the sites of the terror group, The Times of Israel reported.

According to the IDF, troops of the Golani Infantry Brigade’s 12th Battalion raided a mosque in the Khan Younis area, where Hamas operatives were present, according to The Times of Israel report. The IDF said an explosive device was detonated near the forces and soldiers directed an attack helicopter to carry out a strike against Hamas operatives on the roof of the mosque.

The IDF said that an IAF fighter jet destroyed the mosque along with the tunnel infrastructure under it. Meanwhile, the elite Maglan unit identified three Hamas operatives coming out of a tunnel shaft in central Khan Younis and firing RPGs at the troops, according to IDF.

The IDF said Maglan troops also conducted drone strikes on additional Hamas operatives and tunnel shafts in the area. The IDF said that the elite Duvdevan unit found a Hamas command room, which was used by terrorists to attack soldiers, according to The Times of Israel report.

According to IDF, the Duvdevan soldiers conducted an assault on the building, and an IAF fighter jet conducted strikes on another Hamas cell in the area. The IDF said troops of the Givati Infantry Brigade killed a number of Hamas operatives and found numerous tunnel shafts in southern Gaza. (ANI)

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India Always Advocated For An Independent Palestine Living At Peace With Israel: MEA

By LokMarg 12th October 2023

India on Thursday said it sees the attack by Hamas on Israel as “a terrorist attack” and that it has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine that lives side by side at peace with Israel.

Replying to questions during the weekly media briefing regarding the situation concerning the Israel-Hamas war, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also said there is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law and the need to fight terrorism.

“Designation of terrorist organisation under Indian law is a legal matter. I would refer you to relevant authorities. I think we have been very clear that we see this as a terrorist attack. On designation part (concerned) authorities are best placed to respond to it,” Bagchi said answering queries about Hamas’ attack on Israel.

The spokesperson said India’s position concerning the Palestine issue has been “longstanding and consistent”.

“India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders side by side at peace with Israel. That position remains the same,” he said.

Responding to queries about the situation, Bagchi noted that there is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law.

“There is also global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its manifestations,” he said.

The death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack has jumped to 1,300 and some 3300 have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition, The Times of Israel reported.

The fate of an estimated 150 people abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the attack by Hamas is still unclear, the report said.

Over 1300 people have been killed and 5,000 others have been injured in Gaza after Israel launched a strong retaliation over a ‘surprise attack’ by Hamas, CNN reported.

It said some 950 people have been killed and 5,000 others have been injured in the strikes in Gaza.

India on Wednesday launched ‘Operation Ajay’ to bring back its citizens stuck in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

“Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar posted on X.

The Embassy of India in Israel informed that it has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight on Thursday.

“The Embassy has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight tomorrow. Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights,” the Indian Embassy posted on X. (ANI)

Arab Revulsion Puts Hamas On The Defensive

By LokMarg 12th October 2023

Stung by a stream of gory videos from southern Israel and revulsion in the Arab world, the Hamas terror organization is trying burnish its image with a new public relations campaign. But recent comments made by a Hamas figure suggest the damage is irreparable.

“We respect the international laws of war and protect the lives of the captives,” said Izzat al-Rashak, a senior Hamas official and former member of its politburo told the Al Jazeera network on Thursday.

“The publications are Israeli propaganda and an effort to introduce the Zionist narrative,” he added, while calling for an international investigation.

Hamas is on the defensive in the face of Arab criticism.

Amjad Taha, a prominent Emirati publicist and researcher, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, where he has more than 480,000 followers.

“So, Gaza Palestinian terrorists behead children, rape women, kidnap the elderly, and then request utilities (electricity & water) from Israel? What’s their next request — a monthly bill and a fast-food meal?”

The tweet added, “Israel must halt any aid to these terrorists and, in defense of humanity, destroy their infrastructure and their supporters.” It even ended with the hashtag, #IStandWithIsrael.

Abdel Aziz Al Khamis, a well-known Saudi researcher and journalist, echoed the call for action, saying that “running over Hamas” is a necessary step towards finding a solution to the Palestinian issue.

Denunciations included videos posted by Palestinians. “Let the Koran and the religion of Islam speak for themselves… these are people whose hearts are black and dark, people who disbelieve in Islam and whose place is in hell,” as one Palestinian said.

Meanwhile, European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton sent a letter to X and Meta, the parent company of both Facebook and Instagram, giving the social media giants 24 hours to take action against Hamas-linked accounts or face steep fines. X CEO Linda Yaccarino said the social media giant shut down hundreds of accounts.

Breton’s letter was in response to a surge of what he called “fake and manipulated images and facts.”

The EU proscribes Hamas as a terror organization. (ANI/TPS)

MEA Sets Up 24-Hr Control Room In View Of Israel-Palestine Conflict

By LokMarg 11th October 2023

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has set up a 24-hour control room in view of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance.

The contact details of the control room in New Delhi are as follows: 1800118797 (Toll-free), +91-11 23012113, +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905, +919968291988, situationroom@mea.gov.in, according to a release issued by the MEA.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel has set up a 24-hour emergency helpline, which can be accessed at, +972-35226748, +972-543278392, cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in.

India’s Representative Office in Ramallah has also set up a a 24-hour emergency helpline, which can be accessed as per contact details: +970-592916418 (also whatsapp), rep.ramallah@mea.gov.in

Indian Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla in his message said that the situation was being monitored closely and the embassy was there to serve its citizens.

“To our fellow Indian citizens in Israel, this is to assure you that the Embassy is working constantly for your safety and welfare. All of us are going through very difficult times. But please remain calm and vigilant & follow the local security guidelines. We are here to help you and we thank many of you who have sent so many messages of appreciation. We are monitoring the situation closely and please stay tuned for any updates by the Embassy” said the Indian envoy to Israel.

Meanwhile, amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, the Indian diaspora in Israel has expressed confidence in the country’s military and said they want to live peacefully.

A woman of Indian origin in Ashkelon, Israel, Ilana Nagaukar, told ANI: “Yesterday, a missile struck here, vehicles caught fire and there was a power cut in all these buildings. We feel that we are in danger but we believe in our Army. This is our home and we can’t go anywhere. We want to live here peacefully”

Another woman of Indian origin, Rikki thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting Israel’s residents.

She said, “We are thankful to PM Modi that he is supporting us. He’s doing a lot of things for us, for Israel and for our community in India. And we think that the things that he is doing for us, it’s very strong.”

Meanwhile the Israeli Defence forces continued their offensive against Hamas.

Today the Israeli Air Force attacked the Islamic University in Gaza City, which according to them served as a major training centre for Hamas engineers.

The Israeli Air Force in a statement said “Fighter jets recently attacked the Islamic University, which serves as an important centre of political and military power for the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip and a training institution for the development and production of weapons. The Air Force continues with extensive waves of attacks in the Gaza Strip at this time as well.”

Israeli Air Force Chief of Staff, Brig. Gen. Omer Tishler, reviewed the Israeli Air Force’s operational activity and said that the forces were operating on a multi-front attack.

“We will not concentrate on what was, we concentrate on what is happening here and now. The IDF knows how to operate in a multi-front manner as long as necessary. We don’t differentiate between day and night – that’s what war looks like.” said Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Brigadier General Omer Tishler. (ANI)