- New Delhi’s position is part of a policy of trying to maintain a balancing act in global conflicts, say experts
- India has defense ties with Israel that are ‘becoming increasingly important,’ says academic Ali Khan
NEW DELHI
A few days ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the UN General Assembly, and reaffirmed India’s commitment to a two-state solution and peace in the region.
The meeting and assembly session came in the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip, where it has killed and injured nearly 140,000 Palestinians since Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7.
However, days before the two met, India abstained in a significant vote at the General Assembly demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
As Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, the UN has convened multiple sessions and votes to address the escalating violence in the region.
India’s stance on the Israel-Palestine issue, however, has been inconsistent amid widespread global calls to end Israeli violence against Palestinians.
History of Indian stance on Palestine
In 1977, India was among the first non-Arab nations to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and has since consistently supported a two-state solution.
However, its diplomatic stance on the current war on Gaza has not aligned with this position, and domestically, authorities have shown little tolerance for pro-Palestine activism.
During his meeting with Abbas, Modi also emphasized the need for a cease-fire, the release of hostages and a return to dialogue, asserting that a two-state solution remains vital for lasting peace.
Despite this, India abstained from several key votes at the UN, including a resolution for a Gaza truce on Oct. 28 and a UN Human Rights Council resolution in April calling for an immediate cease-fire and an arms embargo on Israel.
Moreover, Modi was among the first global leaders to promptly and firmly show solidarity with Israel just hours after the Hamas attack.
However, India did support Palestine’s bid for full UN membership in May and condemned Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in November.
‘Ties with Israel are becoming increasingly important’
Experts say India’s current policy runs against its longstanding diplomatic relationship with Palestine.
This, they explain, is because of India’s policy of trying to maintain a balancing act in global conflicts.
Ali Khan, a professor of political science at Ashoka University, said the Indian government tries to play both sides in any conflict, which reflects its belief that it does not want to align with any global blocs.
“India supports the creation of a Palestinian state and that is the official position, but it also has defense ties with Israel,” he told Anadolu, adding that these ties are “becoming increasingly important.”
Since Modi assumed power a decade ago, India’s proximity to Israel has been growing faster and its support for Palestine diminishing.
In July 2017, Modi became the first Indian premier to visit Tel Aviv, followed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to New Delhi in January 2018. Since then, the two sides have deepened cooperation in different fields, including defense and security.
In May 2023, New Delhi and Tel Aviv signed an agreement to allow 42,000 Indians to work in Israel.
Later in November, Netanyahu and Modi discussed fast-tracking worker processes to address labor shortages, after Israel banned thousands of Palestinian workers as it attacked Gaza.
India has also faced allegations of exporting arms and ammunition to Israel during the Gaza offensive.
In February, reports emerged that New Delhi was supplying Israel with drones produced as part of a joint venture between Israel’s Elbit Systems and billionaire Gautam Adani’s company.
In May, Spain denied an Israel-bound ship carrying 27 tons of explosives permission to stop at its coast. The ship had started its journey from the coastal city of Chennai in southern India.
While the Indian government has neither admitted nor denied reports of military exports to Israel, it has faced scrutiny and criticism from rights activists.
Violation of Geneva conventions
In August, a coalition of civil society activists and leftist political parties in India held a press conference urging the government to cancel export licenses for companies they accused of supplying military equipment to Israel.
Their contention is that such supplies to Israel would amount to a violation of international and Indian law.
When the government did not respond, the activists petitioned the Supreme Court, arguing that India has international obligations not to supply military weapons to states accused of war crimes.
However, the court dismissed the petition, citing lack of jurisdiction over foreign policy matters. The judgment raised concerns that imposing such a ban could adversely affect the economic interests of Indian companies engaged in international contracts.
Achin Vanaik, a former international relations professor and one of the petitioners, told Anadolu that he had hoped the Supreme Court would at least “censure the Modi government for violating the Geneva convention on genocide.”
In August, opposition leaders also urged the Modi government to halt the supply of arms and ammunition to Israel.
“As a nation that has always championed the cause of justice and human rights, India cannot be complicit in this genocide,” read a joint statement from opposition legislators.
Waning pro-Palestine activism
In India, sections of the civil society and Muslim community have come out in support of Palestine, organizing demonstrations and online campaigns.
In Muslim neighborhoods, activists have run awareness campaigns, urging people to boycott products from companies accused of links with Israel.
Pro-Palestine activism, however, has come at a cost for many as police have detained protesters and arrested young men for waving Palestinian flags at gatherings.
Since last October, authorities across India have filed some 17 cases against at least 51 individuals for participating in demonstrations or expressing solidarity online, according to official data.
Such actions have taken place not only in states ruled by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, but also in places governed by the opposition Congress.
Activists say the crackdown has created a chilling effect on pro-Palestine activism and their solidarity efforts are waning.
“Organizing protests for Palestine is challenging,” said a member of a Muslim student group, who did not want to be named.
“The police deny permission and students fear legal repercussions. Our acts are mostly limited to the internet.”
