External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed grave situation in Middle East with Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Friday, October 13th, to discuss the grave situation arising out of the unprecedented attacks on Israeli cities by Hamas militants over the weekend. This phone conversation came two days after Jaishankar discussed the crisis with Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Attacks and Retaliation

The unprecedented and multi-pronged attacks against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza since Saturday and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left around 2,800 people dead. Israel has launched a massive counter-offensive in Gaza to avenge the attacks by Hamas. The sudden escalation in hostilities between Israel and Hamas has triggered global concerns.

International Response

Leading powers like Germany, the US, France, and the UK emphasized the importance of preventing the situation from further escalation. India, on Thursday, described the strikes by Hamas on Israeli cities as terror attacks but at the same time reaffirmed its long-standing position advocating negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine living side-by-side at peace with Israel.

India's Condemnation of Terrorism

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that there is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law and there is also a global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Bagchi was asked about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza in view of Israel's counter-attacks following Hamas's unprecedented strikes and US President Joe Biden's message to Tel Aviv to operate by the rules of war.

India's Support for Israel

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu that the people of India stand firmly with his country in this difficult hour, expressing strong and unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The situation in the Middle East remains tense, and the international community is calling for a de-escalation of violence. India has condemned the attacks by Hamas and expressed its support for Israel. The world is watching closely to see how the situation will unfold in the coming days.