'India can play pivotal role': Palestinian envoy calls on New Delhi to mediate Iran-Israel conflict

Palestinian Ambassador to India Abdullah Abu Shawesh on Friday said that India is uniquely positioned to play a major role in promoting global peace, as he calls on New Delhi to mediate the escalating conflict between Iran and India.

While speaking to ANI, the Palestinian envoy emphasised that India's geopolitical standing could help it make a meaningful contribution toward restoring stability to West Asia, adding that New Delhi shares good ties with both Iran and Israel.

"India stands first and foremost. I believe India can play a pivotal role, certainly regarding the situation with Israel and in fostering global peace. Therefore, I hope India will stand firm and play a significant part. I am fully confident that India is capable of this and can make a meaningful contribution in this regard; at the very least, regarding our specific situation, India can once again play a crucial role," the Palestinian envoy said on Friday.

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Ambassador Shawesh expressed deep reservations over the durability of a ceasefire or a diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and Israel. The remarks came while he was commenting on a potential peace agreement between the United States and Iran.

'Hope for stability'

The Palestinian ambassador insisted that stability in West Asia is extremely crucial. "All of us hope that stability will be maintained in the Middle East and will prevail across the globe as well. I am certain that Israel will leave no stone unturned to ensure that this war resumes very soon," Abu Shawesh cautioned.

It is pertinent to note that his remarks coincided with his attendance at events relating to the ongoing state funeral ceremonies of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Palestinian envoy extended his condolences for the massive loss in the Islamic world. "Unfortunately, thousands of Iranians have lost their lives, and this is a tragic situation. We must also recall the incident in October 2023, when Israel killed over 500 Palestinians. We must remember these events, and certainly, we must remember everyone who has lost their life--whether Israeli, Palestinian, Iranian, or anyone else," he said.

Commenting on the situation in Gaza, Abu Shawesh urged observers to look past recent months and examine the conflict through a broader historical lens. The diplomat also spoke about his recent article titled 'October 7: One Thousand Days Later', which uses the core "W" journalistic queries--why, what, who, where, and when--to deconstruct the crisis.

"In Gaza, a large majority of people are descendants of refugees, with many born in refugee camps, including myself... The situation has steadily deteriorated over decades, becoming worse and worse with time," he said, citing widespread starvation used as a weapon of war and the near-total collapse of daily living conditions.

With inputs from ANI.