India can act as bridge to peace with Israel, says Palestinian Foreign Minister

Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian has said India is uniquely placed to help advance peace between Israel and Palestine, citing New Delhi’s balanced relations with both sides and its consistent support for dialogue and international law.

During her visit to New Delhi for the India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Aghabekian said there was “no more time for wars” and stressed the need for diplomacy amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. She described the situation in Gaza as dire, saying that despite reduced large-scale hostilities, killings and injuries have continued.

She said most of Gaza’s population is displaced, living in tents or damaged buildings, with urgent needs for food, water, healthcare, education, and shelter.

Aghabekian said the priority must be to make the ceasefire permanent and allow immediate humanitarian relief and reconstruction.

She welcomed international initiatives aimed at stopping the fighting but said any such mechanism must align with the United Nations framework. Addressing concerns over security and the future of Hamas, she said lasting peace depends on addressing root causes and ensuring Palestinians see a genuine path to rights, dignity, and a viable future.

On India’s role, the foreign minister praised New Delhi for early humanitarian assistance to Gaza and long-standing support for Palestine in international forums. She said India’s friendly relations with both Israel and Palestine give it diplomatic leverage and the ability to contribute to peace efforts.

She also warned of a volatile situation in the West Bank, citing settlement expansion and what she described as creeping annexation. Asked about her message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Aghabekian said India should act based on its values, history, and commitment to peace and self-determination.