India on Wednesday expressed ‘concern’ over the escalating situation in Gaza where at least 400 people died in renewed Israeli attack triggering fresh tension.
“We are concerned at the situation in Gaza,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
He said the release of the Israeli hostages captured by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack is ‘important’.
“It is important that all hostages are released,” the spokesperson said.
“We also call for supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza to be sustained,” he said.
Suffering In Gaza ‘Intolerable’
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday spoke of new “intolerable” suffering for Gazans following the resumption of deadly Israeli airstrikes, underscoring three immediate needs: a renewed ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access and the unconditional release of hostages.
“We will not give up on these objectives,” António Guterres said during a press encounter at the UN Office in Geneva.
Airstrikes Resume, Aid Blocked
In a statement issued earlier in the day, UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said Guterres was “shocked” by the Israeli strikes, which reportedly killed hundreds overnight.
He issued a strong appeal for both sides to uphold the ceasefire and allow humanitarian assistance to resume.
Briefing the Security Council on the dire humanitarian situation, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher confirmed that Israeli forces had resumed widespread airstrikes, accompanied by new evacuation orders.
“Our worst fears materialised,” he said, describing the renewed hostilities as a devastating setback to recent humanitarian efforts – marking the return to “abject fear” in Gaza.
Fletcher reported that since 2 March, Israeli authorities had cut off all lifesaving supplies – food, medicine, fuel and cooking gas – into the Gaza Strip.
“Food is rotting and medicines are expiring,” he warned, adding “Our repeated requests to collect aid sitting at Kerem Shalom crossing have been systematically rejected.”
Ceasefire Gains Reversed
Fletcher further warned that modest humanitarian gains made during the 42-day ceasefire had been wiped out.
“During that period, over 4,000 trucks of aid per week entered Gaza. We reached two million people,” he said, noting also that 600,000 received polio vaccinations and maternity care for 5,000 births.
“The suspension of aid and commercial materials is reversing the progress that we achieved during that brief period. Essential survival resources needed are now being rationed,” he added.
At least 400 people died and hundreds of others were injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, marking the biggest attack since the January 19 ceasefire commenced.
Speaking on the airstrikes, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas was responsible for the war.
“Hamas is responsible for this war,” he said.
“Israel will fight and win and we will destroy Hamas,” he said.
Earlier, Hamas accused Israel of attacking “defenceless civilians”, adding that the US bore “responsibility for the massacres” in Gaza, after it emerged Israel briefed the US on the strikes prior to launching them, BBC reported.
(With inputs from IBNS)
