Palestine envoy urges India to lead Gaza reconstruction efforts

Palestine’s Ambassador to India, Abdullah Abu Shawesh, on Thursday called on New Delhi to take a central role in ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and shaping the territory’s post-war future.

He said India’s political weight and close ties with Israel uniquely position it to help “put an end to the Palestinian suffering.”

Framing India as a natural “champion of the [Global] South,” Abu Shawesh posed a pointed question, asking who else could take the lead if not India. He urged New Delhi to leverage its relationship with Israel constructively, including pressing for accountability, and to play a major role in any reconstruction plan for Gaza.

The ambassador gave a harrowing account of Gaza’s humanitarian collapse.

He said that vast numbers of civilians had suffered, noting that the 67,000 Palestinians who were killed were purely civilians with no affiliation to Hamas. He described widespread malnutrition and the breakdown of medical services, adding that around 500 children had died due to malnutrition and lack of food, and that many surgeries were performed without anesthesia, with some children having limbs amputated without it.

Abu Shawesh characterised the violence in Gaza as fitting the definition of genocide, citing international bodies and experts.

Abu Shawesh responded to arguments that Hamas must be dismantled to prevent attacks like the October 7 assault in Israel by challenging the prevailing narrative. He said that while he had no objection to calling Hamas terrorists for the sake of argument, he questioned what term should be used for the Israeli occupation, suggesting that if the occupation itself clearly constituted terror, then the meaning of “terror” needed to be reconsidered.

He reiterated the Palestinian Authority’s position that a future Palestinian state would allow "no room" for militias or parallel armed actors, and argued that Hamas’s growth was influenced by broader regional policies, blaming Israeli actions at various points for strengthening the group.

Addressing India specifically, the ambassador recalled historical ties, invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s opposition to Partition and India’s recognition of Palestine in 1988. He highlighted India’s consistent support in international forums and widespread domestic political backing, noting engagement with leaders and civil society from Kerala to New Delhi.

On concerns about terrorism in India, Abu Shawesh stressed that the Palestinian leadership condemns attacks on Indian soil. He cited a letter of solidarity from President Mahmoud Abbas following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. "Our position was clear... we condemn," he said.

While his appeal carries political weight, Abu Shawesh also made a practical plea: for India to use its diplomatic influence and development capacity to alleviate Gaza’s immediate humanitarian crisis and contribute to a sustainable two-state solution that ensures security and prevents the resurgence of militias.