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India calls for ceasefire in Gaza, says pauses not enough to ease crisis
Today's meeting takes place against the backdrop of a persisting humanitarian crisis in Gaza," said India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, addressing an open debate in the UN Security Council on Wednesday.
"Intermittent pauses in hostilities are not enough to address the scale of humanitarian challenges confronting the people, who grapple daily with acute shortages of food and fuel, inadequate medical services and lack of access to education, Harish said at the open debate on the 'Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question'.
Underlining that the way ahead is clear, and highlighting India's consistent position in this regard, Harish said the ongoing human suffering must not be allowed to continue.
Humanitarian assistance needs to be facilitated in a safe, sustained and timely manner. There is no substitute to peace. A ceasefire must be put in place. All hostages must be released. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable paths to achieving these objectives. There are no other fixes or solutions, he said.
He also expressed hope that an upcoming UN conference on the Israel-Palestine conflict would pave the way for concrete steps" towards achieving a two-State solution.
Harish told the Council debate, held under Pakistan's presidency of the Security Council for the month of July, that India shares historic and strong ties with its Palestinian brothers and sisters.
We have always stood by them and our commitment towards the Palestinian cause is unwavering, he said, noting that India was the first non-Arab country to recognise the State of Palestine.
Describing the health and education situation in Gaza as particularly troubling, Harish said the World Health Organisation estimates that around 95 per cent of all hospitals in Gaza are damaged or destroyed.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reports that more than 650,000 children have had no schooling for over 20 months, he said.
Harish said that India takes note of the High-Level International Conference on the implementation of a two-State solution scheduled for July 28-30.
While engaging in a forward-leaning and constructive manner, it is our hope that this conference would pave the way for concrete steps towards achieving a two-State solution, Harish said.
He said India underscores its readiness to contribute to efforts aimed at shaping a political horizon that restores hope for the Palestinians and achieving sustained peace in the Middle East.
The high-level conference, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, was scheduled to take place from June 17-20 but was postponed due to escalating tensions in the region.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has stressed that it is essential to keep alive the two-State solution perspective with all the terrible things we are witnessing in Gaza and the West Bank.
And for those that doubt about the two-state solution, I ask: What is the alternative? Is it a one-state solution in which either the Palestinians are expelled or the Palestinians will be forced to live in their land without rights? That would be totally unacceptable. I firmly believe that it is the duty of the international community to keep the two-State solution alive and then to materialise the conditions to make it happen, he had said.
President of the General Assembly Philemon Yang has described the international conference as a crucial opportunity that we must seize to chart an irreversible path towards the implementation of the two-State solution. It is imperative that this conference succeeds.
India reiterated that the pathway to enduring peace is rooted in a two-State solution - one that establishes a sovereign, viable and independent State of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace.
India's endeavour is to make a tangible impact on the daily lives of the Palestinians by implementing projects in diverse sectors, and the country is currently implementing projects valued at more than $40 million, Harish said.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on International Relations to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), consider the following statements: 1. It has 10 Members, and each Member has one vote. 2. The presidency of the Security Council shall be held in turn by the members of the Security Council in the English alphabetical order of their names. 3. Each President shall hold office for three months. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — India told a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting, presided over by Pakistan, that there should be a 'serious cost' to nations which foment cross-border terrorism, with the country's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, calling the neighbouring nation a 'serial borrower' that is 'steeped in fanaticism'. UNSC — The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote. Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. — Rule 18 of the Security Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure states: 'The presidency of the Security Council shall be held in turn by the members of the Security Council in the English alphabetical order of their names. Each President shall hold office for one calendar month.' Hence, statement 2 is correct and statement 3 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. (Other Source: Consider the following statements: 1. This country received independence from French colonial rule in 1960. 2. For a majority of its post-independence era, it has seen single-party rule, military coups and limited space for the survival of democratic governments. 3. It is part of the Sahel region. 4. Its capital city is Niamey. The above mentioned country refers to: (a) Libya (b) Chad (c) Algeria (d) Niger Explanation — Two Indian migrant workers were killed in the West African country of Niger, and another was abducted after a terror attack on their worksite, officials said. — The Indian Embassy in Niger said the Mission, in the capital city of Niamey, was in touch with local authorities to repatriate the mortal remains and ensure the safe release of the abducted Indian. 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That stance culminated in a visit by President Joe Biden to Hanoi last September that saw Vietnam lift the United States to its highest diplomatic status alongside China, Russia, India and South Korea. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. With reference to the BRICS grouping, consider the following statements: 1. The New Development Bank established by BRICS aims to provide funding exclusively for BRICS member countries. 2. BRICS has created an alternative payment system called SWIFT to reduce reliance on Western-dominated systems. 3. The latest member to join BRICS is Saudi Arabia taking the total count of members to 10. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 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(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All of the above Explanation — Indian and Bangladeshi nationals are reportedly eligible to secure lifetime residency by paying a one-time fee of AED 100,000 (≈ ₹23.3 lakh), without requiring property or business investment. — It is a nomination-only scheme, meaning applicants must be put forward by authorised partners, such as Rayad Group, VFS, or One Vasco—self-application is not permitted. — All candidates undergo rigorous vetting, which includes anti‑money laundering checks, criminal background screening, and evaluation of their societal or professional contributions — The pilot scheme currently applies only to Indian and Bangladeshi nationals. Citizens of countries like Pakistan and China are explicitly excluded in this phase. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 118) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 119) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than five years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'LIVE with Manas'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
