Modi condemns civilian deaths in W Asia conflict

The developments in West Asia are throwing up new challenges and the time has come for countries of the Global South to speak in one voice for the greater global good, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, condemning civilian deaths in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

- Rezaul H Laskar

Modi made the remarks in his televised opening address at the second virtual Voice of Global South Summit, a platform created by India to bring together developing countries and to seek their recommendations for the country's G20 presidency. Modi largely spoke on the achievements of the G20 presidency but referred to the crisis triggered by the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas.

"For global progress, sabka saath, sabka vikas (with everyone and progress for everyone) is necessary but we are all seeing that new challenges are emerging from the incidents in West Asia," he said, speaking in Hindi.

India had condemned the horrific terror attacks in Israel on October 7 and called for restraint along with dialogue and diplomacy. "We strongly condemn the death of civilians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas," he said.

Modi said that following his phone conversation with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority, India sent humanitarian assistance for the people of Palestine. "This is the time when countries of the Global South must talk in one voice for the greater global good," he said.

In keeping with the theme of "one earth, one family, one future" for India's G20 presidency, all countries should move forward with 5Cs, consultation, cooperation, communication, creativity and capacity building, Modi said.

India had initially backed Israel's right to defend itself, but it has since adopted a more nuanced approach by calling for observance of international humanitarian law and avoiding of civilian casualties. While the Hamas attacks killed 1,200 people, Israel's intense bombardment of northern Gaza has killed more than 11,400 people, including some 4,400 children.