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India Supports Two-State Solution, Jaishankar Says as Trump Considers Gaza ‘Takeover’

Addressing another major conflict, Jaishankar said that “the world expects that parties concerned deal with each other to end the war” in Ukraine.
File image of S. Jaishankar. Photo: External affairs ministry livestream.
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New Delhi: In the first ministerial-level statement since US President Donald Trump’s call to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar reaffirmed that India supports a two-state solution.

Earlier this month, Trump proposed a controversial plan for the US to “take over” Gaza and relocate its nearly two million Palestinian residents to neighbouring countries such as Egypt and Jordan.

The proposal drew widespread criticism from Arab nations but was backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

At the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa on Thursday (February 20), Jaishankar outlined India’s stance on key geopolitical flashpoints in West Asia.

“On the Middle East, we welcome the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release, support humanitarian assistance, condemn terrorism and advocate a two-state solution. Maintaining the ceasefire in Lebanon and ensuring an inclusive Syrian-led, Syrian-owned solution are important. Peace and stability in the region is vital for the entire world,” he said.

As per observers, if Trump’s proposal was implemented, it would make the two-state solution effectively dead on paper, as it would end the prospect of a viable statehood for the Palestinians.

Addressing another major conflict, Jaishankar said that “the world expects that parties concerned deal with each other to end the war” in Ukraine.

Less than 24 hours later, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in Delhi that India’s position is “very clear” and has remained “consistent”.

“We have called for, and we have maintained this consistently that we want both parties involved to resort to dialogue and diplomacy and take this process forward,” he said.

On February 18, US secretary of state Marco Rubio met Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov for talks aimed at ending the war, which began with Russia’s invasion in 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised the meeting for excluding Ukraine, stating that Kyiv would not accept any outcomes from discussions in which it was not involved.

The Indian minister also pointed out that conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and the Sahel region receive little attention. “This must change,” he said.

“In the Indo-Pacific, it is important that international law – especially UNCLOS 1982 – is respected. Agreements entered into must be observed. And there must be no room for coercion,” he added.

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