India’s provision of some 6.5 tonnes of medical aid and 32 tonnes of disaster relief material set for Gaza via Egypt is proof of this ability to distinguish perpetrators from collateral.
In most conflicts, it isn’t easy to come to such a clear-cut position. But GoI has found one on the right side of history and humanity. After the Hamas attack, India came out in unequivocal support for Israel, condemning Hamas and the terror attacks on Israel.
Simultaneously, it called for a political solution to the conflict and differentiated between Hamas, and both Israeli and Palestinian victims of the war, the latter in the hands of a retaliatory Tel Aviv.
India’s steadfast commitment to diplomacy and dialogue over violence to resolve long-standing and complex political issues is the thread that runs through its responses, whether it be to Ukraine or Israel-Gaza.
There is no cookie-cutter approach to foreign policy. Every situation is different. Given its growing global heft, India needs to balance its national interests and principles. While the safety and security of its citizens will remain a critical dimension, given the spread of the diaspora, India will need to calibrate its trans-national response. New Delhi’s response to the October 7 terror attacks and its aftermath show that India is finding its feet and getting there.
