UNSC debate: India announces USD 2.5 million aid for Palestine refugees, backs two-state solution

India has reiterated its support for a negotiated twostate solution to the IsraelPalestine conflict called for a sustained ceasefire in Gaza and announced that it will soon hand over USD 25 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees UNRWA as part of its annual contributionSpeaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Maintenance of International Peace and Security Advancing Political Solutions in the Middle East Mediation and Dialogue for Lasting Peace on Wednesday Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni said the situation in Gaza has grave humanitarian implications and requires urgent international attentionHe reaffirmed Indias support for a sovereign independent and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security with Israel within secure and recognised borders describing it as the only path to achieving lasting peace and prosperity in the regionHighlighting Indias longstanding development partnership with Palestine he said We will be handing over in a few days USD 25 million to UNRWA the first tranche of our annual USD 5 million contribution he saidOn Lebanon India called for respect for the countrys territorial integrity and sovereignty and stressed the need to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the Declaration on the Cessation of Hostilities issued in November 2024Ambassador Parvathaneni noted that Indian troops serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL continue to play a vital role and underscored the importance of ensuring their safety and securityThey carry out a vital mandate entrusted by this Council and they must not be targeted he said adding that India would also be sending medical assistance to LebanonAddressing the situation in Yemen India reaffirmed its commitment to the unity sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and strongly condemned attacks on maritime navigationThe envoy emphasised that safeguarding the Bab alMandab Strait and the southern Red Sea is a shared international responsibility and said India remains opposed to any attempts to undermine stability in the Gulf of Aden the Arabian Sea and the Indian OceanIn his remarks he underlined how mediation frameworks once created are not fit for purpose forever and highlighted how the Gaza Peace Plan and the Board of Peace Framework stand as very distinct approaches when compared to the past frameworksWe must adapt and continue our efforts in tune with the new realities For example the Palestine issue is replete with outdated mediation frameworks that are not relevant in todays context Todays Gaza Peace Plan and the Board of Peace framework are very distinct as compared to earlier frameworks he saidUnderlining how the biggest casualty in conflicts and disputes are vulnerable groups such as women and children he said that any intervention must attach centrality to alleviating human suffering and called for a humancentric approach towards all efforts that endeavour to resolve disputes and address conflictsHe also spoke about the need to reform the eightdecadeold architecture of the Security Council in the wake of the inability to address conflict situations taking place in different parts of the worldThe UN is facing questions related to legitimacy credibility and efficacy Raging conflicts in different parts of the world and the immeasurable human suffering are driving factors Implementing real reforms through expansion of both permanent and nonpermanent categories in accordance with todays geopolitical realities is vital to UNs continued relevance and future The UNSC has to be fitforpurpose he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever