Meeting Between Israeli PM and Indian NSA on Provide Humanitarian Assistance in Gaza

Defense News ,India :-  National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The two leaders also talked about efforts to release hostages and provide humanitarian assistance.

In a statement on social media platform 'X,' the Israeli Prime Minister's office shared, "Today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to discuss recent developments in the fighting in the Gaza Strip. The meeting also addressed the ongoing efforts to release hostages and provide humanitarian aid. The Director of the National Security Council, the Prime Minister's Foreign Policy Advisor, and the Indian Ambassador to Israel were also present at the meeting."

Netanyahu, on Sunday, reiterated his commitment to military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. He emphasized the need to prevent a recurrence of an attack similar to October 7. Netanyahu stated, "We'll go there. We're not going to leave. You know, I have a red line. You know what the red line is? That October 7 doesn't happen again. To do that, we have to complete the destruction of the Hamas terrorist army."

The Israeli Prime Minister clarified that the operation would not exceed two months but did not provide specific details about the timeline.

Responding to U.S. President Joe Biden's criticism that Netanyahu is "hurting Israel more than helping," the Israeli PM defended his policies in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu said in an interview, "I don't know exactly what the president meant, but if he meant that I'm pursuing private policies against the wish of the majority of Israelis and that this is hurting the interests of Israel, then he's wrong on both counts."

Meanwhile, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh expressed openness to continued mediated talks with Israel. Despite the failure to reach a truce agreement before Ramadan, Haniyeh insisted that a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza are essential for any agreement. In a televised speech, he stated, "We have established the most important principle for reaching an agreement, which is a comprehensive ceasefire and an end to the war on Gaza, the complete withdrawal of the occupation army from all the territory of the Gaza Strip."