October 7 changed the history for Israel, with most number of its citizens killed after the Holocaust. Ten days later, the bombing of a hospital in Gaza marked a shift for the Arab world.
Jordan’s decision to cancel the summit with US President Joe Biden was a message. On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, expressing concern over the deteriorating security situation in the region.
“Shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region. Reiterated India's long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue,” Modi said on X.
This is the first time the two leaders spoke since Israel declared a war on Hamas and started bombing Gaza.
Earlier, following the attack on the Gaza hospital, Modi had tweeted: "Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern. Those involved should be held responsible.’’
Unlike Biden who firmly threw his weight behind Israel saying it was the “other team’’ that carried out the hospital bombing, India has chosen to point no fingers—a stance that is likely not to upset Israel and not lose friends within the Arab countries.
The reach out to the Islamic world has been one of the biggest planks of the Modi diplomatic doctrine. With the outrage mounting in the Arab world against Israel, the South Block has chosen to read the smoke signals.
It is also political for a domestic audience. The Congress had chosen to speak for the Palestinian cause while condemning terrorism, with party leader Priyanka Gandhi declaring her anguish as a mother and as a woman after the bombing of the Gaza hospital. This has forced the BJP to ensure they keep a balance at home, too, while being tough on terror.
India was among the first countries to declare solidarity with Israel after Hamas launched an attack on its citizens. India has also been the only voice in the global south that did not choose to go down the de-escalation route. As a country that has waged a battle against terrorism, India has taken—especially under the Modi government—a very hard stand on terror.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has had a long standing bromance with Prime Minister Modi, had spoken to him after the attack.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi at a media briefing on Thursday condemned the attack on Israel and called for the international community to stand together in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
“As regards Palestine, we have reiterated our long standing position of advocating the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel,” Bagchi said.
Does this mean that the ground is shifting? India so far, even under Modi who has openly embraced Israel, always chosen balance between the two countries. If Modi was the first Prime Minister to go to Israel, he was also the first Prime Minister to visit the occupied territory of Palestine. It will be a tight rope walk from now onwards.