Context

·       Recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood by countries such as France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, and Australia represent more than mere diplomatic statements—they reflect an evolving global consensus affirming the Palestinian people''s right to freedom, dignity, and sovereign statehood. These developments have revitalised international momentum for Palestinian recognition, even as humanitarian conditions in Gaza worsen.

·       India, which was once at the forefront of this cause, had recognised Palestinian statehood as early as 1988—a decision rooted in its moral convictions and shaped by its own post-colonial identity. However, India’s conspicuous silence during the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza raises serious concerns about its shifting posture. The question now confronting the world—and India itself—is whether the country has relinquished its traditional role as a principled voice for global justice.

India’s Legacy of Moral Leadership

·       India’s foreign policy has historically blended strategic interests with moral conviction. Even before independence, Indian leaders condemned apartheid in South Africa, halted trade relations with the regime, and highlighted its injustices at the United Nations. During the Algerian struggle for liberation, India maintained unwavering support for anti-colonial forces. In 1971, India intervened in East Pakistan to halt atrocities, leading to the formation of Bangladesh. Similarly, when Vietnam was under foreign aggression, India chose to stand firmly for peace, sovereignty, and justice.

·       This moral outlook was not ad hoc but constitutionally grounded. The Indian Constitution explicitly lists the promotion of international peace and security as a directive principle of state policy, embedding ethical considerations into the nation’s external affairs.

A Balanced and Principled Stand on the Israel-Palestine Conflict

·       India’s approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict has historically been nuanced, consistent, and principled. It was among the first countries to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in 1974 and has repeatedly reaffirmed support for a two-state solution that ensures Palestinian self-determination and peaceful coexistence with Israel.

·       India has backed multiple United Nations resolutions upholding Palestinian rights and condemning the expansion of Israeli settlements. It has also extended tangible support to Palestinian development through scholarships, healthcare aid, and capacity-building initiatives, underscoring its commitment to justice beyond rhetoric. All the while, India maintained diplomatic relations with Israel, balancing pragmatism with principle.

India’s Silence Amidst a Deepening Crisis

·       The renewed conflict that erupted in October 2023 has placed the Israel-Palestine issue back into global focus. Hamas’s attacks on Israeli civilians triggered an Israeli military response of unprecedented scale. The aftermath has been devastating: over 55,000 Palestinians, including approximately 17,000 children, have lost their lives. Gaza''s infrastructure lies in ruins, famine looms large, and desperate civilians are being targeted even as they search for food.

·       This unfolding humanitarian crisis has been met with global inertia, allowing Israel’s actions to proceed with limited international restraint. In contrast, the recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood by several countries mark a moral resurgence in international diplomacy—a move toward justice and accountability.

·       However, India’s silence during this moment of acute crisis is deafening. Once a firm supporter of oppressed populations, India’s muted stance signals a retreat from its legacy. The current administration’s foreign policy appears less anchored in constitutional values and more influenced by personal diplomacy, particularly the strong rapport between the Indian Prime Minister and his Israeli counterpart. Such personalisation of international relations reduces historically grounded policies to the fluctuating dynamics of individual relationships—a framework ill-suited for a nation with India’s global responsibilities.

The Path Ahead: Reclaiming Ethical Foreign Policy

·       The question of Palestine is not merely a diplomatic concern—it is a moral and civilisational challenge, intimately tied to India’s own historical experience with colonial rule. The Palestinian quest for statehood and dignity echoes India’s own anti-imperialist struggle, marked by decades of dispossession, exploitation, and systemic denial of basic rights.

·       To remain silent now is not an act of neutrality—it is a form of complicity. India is not expected to take sides blindly but is called upon to display principled leadership, anchored in its long-standing commitment to human rights, dignity, and justice, irrespective of political convenience or strategic calculations.

Conclusion

India’s foreign policy tradition has been shaped by moral clarity, ethical courage, and a commitment to justice in global affairs. At a time when several nations are reasserting support for Palestinian statehood and confronting the ethical dimensions of the crisis in Gaza, India’s continued silence threatens to erode its standing as a moral force in international diplomacy. The real challenge is not just geopolitical; it is ethical and historical—whether India will honour its legacy as a voice for the oppressed or allow transient political relationships to dilute its foundational values.