India hails Trump’s role in landmark Gaza peace deal at UN
United Nations: India has praised US President Donald Trump for his pivotal role in brokering the landmark Gaza peace agreement, calling it a major step towards lasting stability in the region.
“The landmark initiative of the United States has generated diplomatic momentum towards peace, and all parties must adhere to their obligations in this regard,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, said on Thursday during a UN Security Council debate on the Middle East.
Harish commended the United States — and particularly President Trump — for being “instrumental in forging the agreement,” while also appreciating Egypt and Qatar for mediating between Israel and Hamas.
India, which took part in the Gaza Peace Summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13, welcomed the signing of the pact. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited, the country was represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.
The peace agreement, built on a 20-point plan devised by Trump, aims to promote peace and reconstruction in Gaza. The deal, reached after intense diplomatic efforts, saw both Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire and rebuilding framework.
Harish said the development has “created positive diplomatic momentum” that should lead to enduring peace. He urged all sides to “support ongoing peace efforts rather than derail them,” reiterating India’s opposition to any unilateral actions.
He emphasized that the short-term diplomatic success must “pave the way for medium- and long-term political commitments and practical action” toward achieving a Two-State solution where Israel and an independent Palestine coexist peacefully.
Reaffirming India’s “unwavering support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, national independence, and sovereignty,” Harish stressed that a future Palestinian state must also be economically viable.
He highlighted the need for development-oriented programmes focusing on investment, social growth, and employment to rebuild Gaza, where an estimated 80 per cent of homes have been destroyed in Israeli strikes.
“Aid is essential in the short term for rehabilitation and reconstruction,” he said, calling for greater international assistance.
India has provided over $170 million in aid to Palestine, including $40 million worth of ongoing development projects, and supplied 135 metric tons of medicines and relief materials in the past two years, Harish noted.
