Israel on Wednesday (October 25) urged India to officially classify Hamas as a terrorist organization, a move that has been adopted by numerous other countries. The Israeli ambassador to New Delhi, Naor Gilon hailed India’s “solid support” for Israel’s actions against Hamas, especially in the wake of the October 7 attacks on Israeli cities.
“The important countries for us are with us. These are the democracies of the world. Having said that…I think it is also time to officially designate Hamas in India as a terror organisation,” Gilon said at a media briefing.
Gilon highlighted that several democracies around the world, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union, have already designated Hamas as a terrorist outfit. Gilon called for India to follow suit in designating Hamas as a terrorist entity during a media briefing, asserting that this step is essential for international cooperation in combating the organization.
Israel bombards Gaza
In the meantime, Israel conducted airstrikes on the Gaza Strip as it prepared for a ground invasion with the goal of eliminating the Palestinian militant group Hamas.The development comes as Russia cautioned that the conflict could potentially escalate beyond the Middle East.
In the besieged Gaza Strip, the supply of humanitarian aid was critically low, with international efforts to secure a ceasefire for aid delivery proving unsuccessful. The civilian casualties continued to rise, and residents were forced to bury the deceased in mass graves.
Additionally, US President Joe Biden looked beyond the ongoing war, expressing his belief that the future should involve the coexistence of Israeli and Palestinian states living side by side. Biden stated, “Israelis and Palestinians equally deserve to live side by side in safety, dignity, and peace” during a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
US, Israeli Defense Ministers discuss need to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, during which they emphasised the importance of facilitating humanitarian aid into Gaza and safeguarding the well-being of civilians. Austin expressed the United States’ commitment to preventing further escalation and expressed hope for the release of the remaining hostages.
In a statement from the US Department of Defense, it was noted that the two leaders discussed Israel’s efforts to restore security following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack. Secretary Austin commended Israel’s assistance in enabling humanitarian aid convoys to reach Gaza and reiterated the need for the protection of civilians. Additionally, they acknowledged the release of two hostages on October 23 and called for the release of the remaining individuals held captive.
Israel prepares for ground invasion
Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas, which rules Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address, announced preparations for a potential ground invasion but did not provide specific details regarding timing or scale. Israeli tanks and troops have amassed along the Gaza border, with 360,000 reservists called up.
There is mounting international pressure to postpone any Gaza invasion, particularly due to concerns about hostages. Over half of the estimated 220 hostages held by Hamas possess foreign passports from 25 different countries, including many with dual Israeli nationality, as reported by the Israeli government.