New Delhi: The Embassy of Palestine, in partnership with India Islamic Cultural Centre, hosted a solemn observance of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on Wednesday. The event brought together more than two dozen ambassadors, diplomats, ministers, academics, civil society members, and friends of Palestine, all united in their message of justice, peace, and human dignity. The event symbolised both the global outrage over ongoing suffering of Palestinians and the continued belief in a just resolution anchored in international law.
Acquino Vimal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs, read out Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official message, which underscored India’s long-standing and unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause. Modi’s statement reaffirmed India’s consistent position over decades, support rooted not only in diplomacy but in shared developmental aspirations. He emphasised that India’s engagement with Palestine has always been anchored in people-centric projects implemented in cooperation with UN agencies. These initiatives, he said, reflect India’s commitment to the Palestinian people’s well-being, progress, and prosperity.
Modi’s message highlighted a crucial element, the belief that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only sustainable pathways to resolving conflict. Calling for uninterrupted humanitarian assistance, he urged all parties to honour their commitments and allow relief operations to reach those most in need.
Dr. Anjela Luzighi delivered the message of UN Secretary-General, painting a sobering picture of the humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded in Gaza over the past two years. She described a population devastated by widespread hunger, disease, trauma, and the complete destruction of homes, schools, and hospitals.
Luzighi highlighted that injustice is not confined to Gaza alone; the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continues to witness military raids, settler violence, demolitions, evictions, and threats of annexation. She noted with deep concern that the current conflict has resulted in the highest number of humanitarian workers and journalists killed since World War II. The deaths of hundreds of aid workers, many from UN agencies, and reporters who risked their lives to document the truth, represent a profound violation of humanitarian norms.
While acknowledging that the recently brokered ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope, she stressed the urgent need for all parties to honour it. She called for the return of hostages’ remains, scaled-up humanitarian access to Gaza, and sustained support for UNRWA’s critical work. The UN’s position remained unequivocal, the unlawful occupation must end, and a two-state solution, grounded in international law, must be pursued with renewed seriousness.
In his opening remarks, Palestinian Ambassador Abdullah Abu Shawesh revisited the roots of the Palestinian struggle, recalling the 1947 UN Partition Plan that allocated most of Palestine to Jewish settlers despite Palestinians being the overwhelming land-owning majority. This decision, he argued, marked the genesis of mass dispossession and seven decades of profound injustice.
Ambassador Shawesh asserted that the continuity of Palestinian suffering is not due to legal ambiguity but rather the international community’s failure to enforce international law. Israel’s impunity, he said, is sustained by political protection, military support, and repeated vetoes in the UN Security Council. The devastation in Gaza, he added, is nothing less than a genocide unfolding in plain view, enabled by global silence and complicity.
He also highlighted the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between India and Palestine, links extending back centuries. India’s principled stance in global forums, recognition of the PLO, and consistent opposition to illegal settlements were acknowledged with appreciation. The ambassador concluded with a call for the world to move beyond words and adopt concrete measures that treat illegal settlements, land grabs, and collective punishment as crimes demanding accountability.
Former Union Minister and IICC President Salman Khurshid questioned why the world, with its repeated declarations of solidarity, has been unable to prevent the immense suffering of Palestinians. He described the tragedies of Gaza, especially the loss of children and civilians, as scenes that have left an indelible scar on humanity’s conscience.
Referring to global discussions at the Socialist International conference in Malta, where leaders agreed that symbolic gestures and sympathetic statements are no longer enough, Khurshid emphasised the urgent need for real action that aligns with international law and moral responsibility. Offering heartfelt admiration for the resilience of Palestinians, “a beautiful people,” he dedicated his remarks to the children of Palestine. Solidarity, he concluded, must now evolve into tangible steps toward peace and justice.
Moroccan Ambassador Mohammad Maliki declared that the present moment marks one of the darkest chapters in the history of Palestinian struggle. He condemned ongoing violence in Gaza, assaults on civilians, and violations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Particularly alarming, he noted, are provocations around religious sites, actions that risk turning political conflict into a dangerous religious confrontation with global implications.
Maliki emphasised the international community’s moral responsibility to oppose illegal settlements and forced displacement. Without accountability and action, he warned, the region will continue to descend into instability.
The event concluded with a collective reaffirmation of solidarity with the people of Palestine. From India’s principled stance to the UN’s urgent appeals, from the moral clarity of Arab nations to the emotional resolve expressed by civil society, it sent a unified message, justice for Palestine remains a global imperative. As diplomats, activists, and scholars stood together, they underscored that peace cannot be postponed any longer, and that the world must move from sympathy to meaningful action to secure a just future for the Palestinian people.
