‘Durable Peace Requires Two-State Solution’: Jaishankar at UNGA on Israel-Palestine

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reiterated India’s support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, saying lasting peace in West Asia will require the creation of separate Israeli and Palestinian states.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, Jaishankar said, “We strongly believe that a durable and lasting peace requires a two-state solution.”

He also highlighted India’s humanitarian support for Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict.

“In the meantime, India is contributing to humanitarian assistance and relief efforts for the Palestinian people,” Jaishankar said.

India has repeatedly backed the two-state solution. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has previously said New Delhi supports the creation of a “sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine within secure and recognised borders, living side by side in peace with Israel”.

The government had also supported Palestine’s membership of the United Nations last year while condemning the October 7, 2023 terror attacks on Israel and the loss of civilian lives during the subsequent Israel-Hamas conflict.

According to the MEA, India has provided around 70 MT of humanitarian aid to Palestinians since the conflict began. This included 16.5 MT of medicines and medical supplies sent in two tranches in October and November 2023.

India subsequently supplied 65 MT of medicines to the UN Relief and Works Agency and the Palestine Ministry of Health in October and November 2024. The government has also said that projects worth $26 million have been completed in Palestine over the last five years.

Two-State Solution Has No Substitute: India
India’s commitment to the two-state solution was reiterated at the UN General Assembly last year as well.

In July, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said there was no substitute for such a settlement and urged countries to take concrete steps towards achieving it.

“Reaffirmation of support must take the form of actionable steps that pave the way for the two-state solution. Identification of such steps and their implementation modalities demand our collective attention and effort,” he said.

Jaishankar Calls For End To Ongoing Conflicts
Jaishankar also called for an end to ongoing wars during his UN address, saying that “endless war must now give way to an end to conflict”.

He voiced concern over continuing hostilities in the Gulf and described the situation in Ukraine as “equally troubling”.

The External Affairs Minister also criticised Pakistan during his address, accusing a “serial practitioner of terrorism” of attempting to normalise terrorism and seek immunity from its consequences.

“Yesterday, a serial practitioner of terrorism misrepresented facts before this Assembly,” Jaishankar said, in a veiled reference to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had raised the Kashmir issue during his UN address on Friday.