Following renewed hostilities between Israel and Palestine and some of the deadliest air strikes on the Gaza Strip since the 2014 war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to Twitter to thank the 25 nations that have come out in support of Israel’s “right to self defence against terrorist attacks”.
However, in his tweet including 25 nations that came out in support, Netanyahu did not incorporate the Indian flag, leading to some comments asking him to do so.
Sir #IndiaStandWithIsrael love and support from india pic.twitter.com/ixGils8fK5
— ॠषि उपमन्यु (@rishi7229) May 16, 2021
For several days since Israel’s storming of the Al-Aqsa mosque following protests over its forced evictions of Palestinians in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, Indian Twitter had seen the hashtag #IndiaStandsWithIsrael appear on trending.
However, India’s official position has been more neutral. India was the first non-Arab country to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s authority as the sole legitimate representative for the Palestinian people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Palestine.
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador, T.S. Tirumurti had earlier tweeted saying he told the UNSC meeting on Tuesday that India was “Deeply concerned at clashes and violence in Haram Al Sharif/Temple Mount” and “equally concerned about evictions in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods”
He called on both sides to avoid changing teh status-quo on the ground, and noted that the Old City also houses an Indian Hospice, Al Zawiyya Al Hindiyya. He went on to condemn rocket fire from Gaza and urged restraint of all parties calling on them to adhere to UNSC Resolution 2334 (which, voted for 14-0 in 2016, noted that Israel’s settlement activities in Palestinian territories were a “flagrant violation” of international law).
India remains committed to the two-state solution, Ambassador Tirumurti said.
