External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to the Palestinian Prime Minister as Israel continues to pound Gaza. The Minister said he reiterated India’s ‘long-standing position’ during the telephonic conversation.

MEA Jaishankar took to social media to share that that he “spoke to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Saturday evening.

“He expressed deep concern on the situation in both Gaza and the West Bank. Reiterated India’s long-standing position on Palestine. Agreed to remain in touch,” the Minister added.

This comes a day after Jaishankar informed Parliament that India remains concerned over the deteriorating security situation arising out of the Hamas-Israel conflict. He also called for “restraint and de-escalation” while emphasising on a peaceful resolution of the conflict through “dialogue and diplomacy”.

“We remain concerned at the deteriorating security situation and have called for restraint, de-escalation and emphasised peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy,” the minister said in a written reply to a question.

The MEA also stated that India strongly condemned the October 7 terror attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas as well as the loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict. “India’s position regarding the Palestine issue has been “longstanding and consistent,” Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi said in a Press briefing on October 12.

“India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders side by side at peace with Israel. That position remains the same,” the MEA spokesperson had stated.

Earlier in October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and expressed his condolences over the loss of lives at Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Modi also reaffirmed India’s commitment to provide the Palestinian people with humanitarian assistance while reiterating India’s long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue.

Meanwhile, Israel is expanding and escalating its attack in Gaza. Israel’s army ordered residents out of the centre of Gaza’s main southern city Khan Younis on Saturday and pounded the length of the enclave.

Earlier the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. As per official records, the Palestinian death toll in Gaza exceeded 17,700 on Saturday, with many thousands more missing and presumed dead under the rubble.