Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
India

India always advocated direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel: MEA

Darpan News Desk IANS, 12 Oct, 2023 05:40 PM
  • India always advocated direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel: MEA

New Delhi, Oct 12 (IANS) India on Thursday made it clear that in case of Palestine, it has always advocated resumption of direct negotiations for its peaceful coexistence with Israel, even as it sees the conflict in Israel as a terror attack.

"We have been very clear that we see it as a terrorist attack. As far as Palestine is concerned, India has advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing the sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised border side by side with Israel," said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi.

Addressing a flurry of questions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, which got escalated last week after the Hamas group launched rocket attacks on Tel Aviv, Bagchi said that government's prime focus is to bring back 18,000 Indians stuck there.

"Our focus is to bring back Indians who want to come out of Israel. There are 18,000 Indians there, including students," he said, informing that the government has launched Operation Ajay to bring back Indian citizens from war-torn Israel.

"Yesterday, Operation Ajay was launched to facilitate our citizens who wish to come back. The first flight will reach Tel Aviv tonight and is likely to reach India tomorrow (Friday) with 230 people," Bagchi informed.

The spokesperson also informed that there are no casualties among Indians stuck in Israel, though one person has been injured.

"We are aware of one Indian who was injured. The person is in hospital. Thankfully, we have not heard of any Indian casualty," he informed. 

To questions on Indians stuck in Palestine, Bagchi said, "My understanding is that about a dozen-odd people are there in West Bank while 3-4 people are there in Gaza. The number is very small. Mostly, we have received requests (to rescue) from Israel."

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has kept its aircraft on stand-by in case there is a requirement to bring back Indian citizens from Israel, reports quoting IAF officials said. 

The IAF transport aircraft fleet includes the C-17 and IL-76 heavy-lift transport planes along with the C-130J Super Hercules Special Operations aircraft which have been used in the past for such evacuation operations, they added.

Replying to questions on reports saying that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is learnt to have met his Canadian counterpart, Bagchi said, "We have been in touch with Canadians at various levels, but we do not have any specific information regarding any particular interaction."

To a question on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raising the issue of his country's relations with India with other world leaders, Bagchi said, "We don't know really how will it help address the core issue of Canada giving space to terrorists and criminal elements.

"We would urge Canada to take more seriously their international obligations to provide security to our diplomats in their premises."

MORE India ARTICLES

Punjab Police arrest man who swam into Pak jurisdiction to retrieve narcotics

Punjab Police arrest man who swam into Pak jurisdiction to retrieve narcotics
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, had busted a cross-border drugs smuggling racket with the arrest of a drugs smuggler identified as Shinder Singh after recovering a consignment of 10 kg heroin and Rs 1.5 lakhs from his possession, while a woman drugs smuggler, Amandeep Kaur, alias Deep Bhai, linked to this module was also arrested with 1 kg heroin.

Punjab Police arrest man who swam into Pak jurisdiction to retrieve narcotics

Riding boat, Punjab CM visits flood-hit areas

Riding boat, Punjab CM visits flood-hit areas
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday toured flood-affected areas in Hoshiarpur district in a boat to take stock of the situation. Boarding the boat with NDRF officials, the Chief Minister visited Rara and Fateh Kulla villages and then visited Haler village.

Riding boat, Punjab CM visits flood-hit areas

10 year-old suffers burn injuries on Delhi-Frankfurt flight

10 year-old suffers burn injuries on Delhi-Frankfurt flight
A young passenger, aged 10, who was on a Tata owned Vistara flight from Delhi to Frankfurt last week, suffered burn injuries due to a mishap involving a hot beverage spill. The child's family has criticised the airline for its inadequate response to the situation, asserting that the crew failed to apologise for the incident.  

10 year-old suffers burn injuries on Delhi-Frankfurt flight

8 held at IGI with 50 gold chains valued at around Rs 3cr

8 held at IGI with 50 gold chains valued at around Rs 3cr
Eight Uzbekistan nationals have been arrested at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here allegedly trying to smuggle in 50 gold chains valued at around Rs 3 crore, an official said on Wednesday. A senior Customs official said that all the passengers were held on August 15, on the basis of passenger profiling.

8 held at IGI with 50 gold chains valued at around Rs 3cr

Register FIR against AAP legislator in assault case: Akali Dal leader

Register FIR against AAP legislator in assault case: Akali Dal leader
Majithia told the media here that “even though Sub-Inspector Kailash Chander was summoned by the legislator and beaten up when he was sitting in his office, an attempt is being made to dilute the case by registering an FIR against two AAP office-bearers”.

Register FIR against AAP legislator in assault case: Akali Dal leader

Situation of floods in control: Punjab CM

Situation of floods in control: Punjab CM
The Chief Minister said the government is duty bound to help the people in this hour of grave crisis and no stone is being left unturned for this noble cause. He said succour is being provided even to the last person at the far-flung areas of the state.    

Situation of floods in control: Punjab CM