New Delhi:

India said Thursday it had “always advocated… direct negotiations towards establishing… a sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine”. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also said India is aware of a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law.

Describing India’s position on the Palestine issue as “longstanding and consistent”, Mr Bagchi had said the government would like to see negotiations leading to a Palestine state “living within secure and recognised borders, side-by-side (and) at peace with Israel. That position remains the same.”

READ | “Always Advocated” Independent Palestine At Peace With Israel, Says India

The government’s comments follow earlier statements offering unequivocal support for Israel and no mention of Palestine, which was criticised by opposition politicians and civil society activists.

In his first remark on the Hamas’ October 7 strike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared himself “deeply shocked” by the attack, which he swiftly identified as a “terrorist” action.

READ | “Deeply Shocked”: PM Modi After “Terrorists Attacks” On Israel

On Tuesday the Prime Minister spoke to his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, on the phone, and said, “India stands firmly with Israel… strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism…”

READ | “India Stands Firmly With Israel”: PM Modi To Netanyahu

The two sets of comments are similar, in that both call out the global evil that is terrorism, but the emphasis this week on “a sovereign… and viable state of Palestine” has been seen as a significant opening of India’s position on the war, which broke as Delhi seeks a bigger Middle East role.

It has been seen as a recalibration of stances in light of Israel’s devastating response.

India’s initial response was seen as one dictated by both humanitarian concern for thousands killed or injured in Israel, and by growth of friendly ties under the Modi and Netanyahu governments.

However, as the situation evolves, and if Arab states that have so far been relatively quiet about the assault on Gaza start to speak up, Delhi may find itself in a difficult situation.

It has multiple strategic, economic and cultural interests with the Arab nations. And then there is oil; India imports the bulk of its oil from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. If this is stopped or reduced (for any reason), increased imports from Russia can offset some but not all.

India also has historically close ties with Palestine; in 1974 India was the first non-Arab state to recognise it as the “legitimate representative” of the Palestinians and, in 1988, as a full State.

Those ties have continued under the Modi government with the late Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj visiting Palestine in 2016 and the then Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visiting India in 2017.

PM Modi returned Mr Abbas’ visit a year later, when he said India hoped to see an “independent Palestinian state living in an environment of peace”.

In fact, it isn’t just PM Modi’s BJP government that has called for “an independent state”.

In 1977, when the late former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of the BJP’s tallest leaders, said that for the Middle East issue to be resolved “Israel must vacate Palestinian land it has illegally occupied”.

That video re-emerged on social media this week as the Israel-Hamas hostilities escalated.

‘For permanent peace in the Middle-East, Israel must vacate Palestinian land it has illegally occupied.’

— Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when he became India’s External Affairs Minister, at a rally in Delhi in March 1977. 2/3 pic.twitter.com/Fildbp9qiD

— Sudheendra Kulkarni (@SudheenKulkarni) October 8, 2023

Also, the sum of India’s two responses so far reflects more balanced statements made in May 2021, when violence over a volley of rockets by Hamas and subsequent Israel air strikes left nearly 300 dead.

On that occasion India criticised both sides.

India’s second, and more balanced response, to this round of war between Israel and the Hamas has been seen as significant also because of the domestic political row the conflict triggered.

After a statement defending their right to “live with dignity and respect, the opposition Congress was accused by the BJP of supporting terrorism and being a “hostage to minority vote bank politics”.

READ |Explained: Why Congress Is Under Fire Over Its Statement On Israel War

Over 1,500 Gazans have been killed in Israeli air strikes so far, ahead of what will be a bloody ground incursion. And, following a “complete siege”, over two million people are without electricity and are low on food, water, medicines and other essentials, raising fears of mass starvation and deaths.

Hamas’ attacks killed over 1,200 people, including civilians, and they took around 150 hostages.

The threat of that ground incursion escalated sharply today after Israel ordered 1.1 million Gazan civilians in the north to move southwards, despite no clarity on any cessation in aerial strikes.

READ | NDTV Explains: Israel Orders A Million Gazans To Flee, Where Will They Go?

The United Nations has condemned Israel’s demand, which has also been rejected by the Hamas.

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