India could participate in a mediation process between Israel and Palestine as an emerging power, a New Delhi-based geopolitics pundit has said.
Is India a Legitimate Actor?
Dr. Muddassir Quamar, a professor at India's premier Jawaharlal Nehru University, told Sputnik India that such a scenario could only emerge if the Middle East Quartet, comprising the United Nations, the US, the European Union, and Russia, would like to involve New Delhi in brokering peace between the two warring parties.
Otherwise, he suggested that it was unlikely India would mediate given that New Delhi has thus far refrained from any diplomatic mediation in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
"Also, India has condemned the terrorist attack by Hamas, which means it is not a legitimate actor to engage in diplomacy," Quamar pointed out.
Rockets fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip iare intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence missile system over Sderot on October 8, 2023.
© AFP 2023 JACK GUEZ
According to him, the only possibility is a multilateral effort, either by the UN or the Middle East Quartet wherein India can participate as an emerging power.
"Any Indian initiative looks unlikely, at this stage. But if Israel and Arab partners of India would be interested in New Delhi taking some diplomatic steps, it might join," Quamar told Sputnik India on Tuesday.
The JNU academic's remarks came hours after India's envoy to Palestine Adnan Abu Alhaija stated that New Delhi was "well placed" to defuse tensions in the Middle East.
Обстрел зданий в палестинском городе Газа
© AP Photo / Fatima Shbair
New Delhi 'Qualified' to Engage With Palestine-Israel
Alhaija underlined that India was "qualified" to engage with both parties to ease hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian military movement Hamas, considering the South Asian nation was a friend of both.
"India knows what is the Palestinian cause from the beginning; since the time of Mahatma Gandhi. So, they are qualified to play that role, especially as India is a friend of both (Palestine and Israel)," India's ambassador to Palestine noted.
Modi With Israel in Its 'Difficult Hour'
For decades, India has backed the demand for an independent state of Palestine.
But in the recent flare-up between Israel and Hamas, the Indian government has sided with the Jewish state, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi labeling Hamas as "terrorists".
After condemning the Hamas attack on Israel last week, Modi reiterated his resolve to stand with the Mediterranean country in what he termed their "difficult hour".
"People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," Modi posted on Twitter, now rebranded as X.