India’s Position in the Face of Potential Conflict Between Iran and Israel Explained

Iran, which backs Palestine, has launched a drone attack on Israel amid the latter’s war on Hamas. Late last evening, Iran launched a drone attack on Israel, with the Israeli military reporting interception of most of the incoming missiles and drones with the help of allies. Teheran stated the attack was in “self-defense” after Iran’s diplomatic mission in Damascus was targeted.

Meanwhile, New Delhi expressed serious concern about the escalating hostilities, labeling the situation a “humanitarian” tragedy and calling for immediate de-escalation and a return to diplomacy to maintain peace and security in the region. The anticipated escalation places India in a delicate position as it maintains strong ties with both Israel and Iran. India’s strategic ties with Israel have been bolstered by cooperation in various fields, particularly defense and technology, while its historical relationship with Iran revolves around oil trade and a previous defense pact.

Despite its close relationship with Israel, India has been advocating for a two-state solution and continues to support the Palestinians. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel, has condemned the attack on Israel as a “terrorist act” through a tweet, aligning India against terrorism while also addressing the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza.