South Asian Countries Are Divided on Hamas Attacks – The Diplomat

On October 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented assault on Israel. Hamas militants entered Israeli communities close to the Gaza Strip, killed a whole lot of individuals, and took dozens of hostages. That is Hamas’ most bold strike in opposition to Israel launched from Gaza.

Israel declared conflict in opposition to Hamas and has counter-attacked Gaza Strip and Hamas bases with airstrikes. It has known as for a whole seizure of Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas and warned that the offensive in opposition to the group would proceed “with out reservation and with out respite.”

Over 2,900 folks have died inside per week of the battle. Scores of foreigners are among the many victims.

Although geography separates the battle zone from South Asia, the violence has impacted the area immediately and not directly. Solely 4 of the eight nations within the area — Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan — have diplomatic ties with Israel.

Ten Nepali residents have died within the assaults, with a whole lot of others taking shelter in bunkers. On October 12, Nepal air-lifted 253 residents from the conflict zone. They’re college students who had been “studying and incomes” in Israel. Kathmandu is making ready the logistics to carry again the our bodies of the ten victims.

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Equally, India is making ready for “Operation Ajay” to facilitate the return from Israel of Indian residents.

The early responses of the nations from the area are revelatory.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X (previously Twitter) that he was “deeply shocked by the information of terrorist assaults in Israel.” He expressed solidarity with Israel. New Delhi’s ties with Tel Aviv have improved by leaps and bounds in recent times. Since India established diplomatic relations in 1992, protection and commerce ties shortly improved. Israel is now India’s second-largest protection associate. Modi and Netanyahu’s ethnonational and anti-Muslim ideology has drawn the 2 nations nearer.

Modi’s assertion exhibits how far India-Israel relations have improved for the reason that Chilly Battle, throughout which India championed the Palestinian trigger. Nonetheless, the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) acknowledged that there was no change in coverage. In a daily media briefing, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated India advocated for a “sovereign, impartial, and viable state of Palestine… at peace with Israel.”

Nepal, too, strongly condemned the terrorist assault and conveyed solidarity with the federal government of Israel. Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed unwavering dedication to peace for the Palestinian folks throughout his current speech on the 78th United Nations Basic Meeting in New York. Kathmandu was among the many first nations to have diplomatic ties with Israel however has persistently supported a two-state resolution. Nepal has additionally condemned terrorist actions and doesn’t assist Hamas or its actions.

Sri Lanka was deeply involved in regards to the assaults and the escalation of violence, and known as for a right away finish to the hostilities. Colombo stated it was dedicated to a “negotiated settlement in step with internationally agreed parameters of two states… based mostly on the 1967 borders.”

Pakistan acknowledged it’s “monitoring the unfolding state of affairs within the Center East.” It known as for establishing a “viable, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine.”

In the meantime, Bangladesh strongly condemned the continued armed battle. Nonetheless, it warned Israel that “residing beneath Israeli occupation and compelled settlements in Palestinian territory is not going to pave the way in which for peace.” Dhaka reiterated that the two-state decision is a viable resolution.

Taliban-led Afghanistan went additional to allege that the battle was “the results of Israeli Zionists trampling on the rights of the oppressed Palestinian folks and repeated insults and disrespect to Muslim holy locations.”

There’s a clear divide over the views of South Asian nations on Hamas.

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India and Nepal referred to the group as terrorists. In the meantime, the Muslim-majority nations within the area, none of which have diplomatic ties with Israel — Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Maldives — have prevented blaming Hamas, expressed sympathy, or supported its actions outright.

1000’s of individuals in Bangladesh and Pakistan marched to indicate solidarity with the Palestinians.

South Asian nations, whether or not they have diplomatic ties with Israel or not, are largely unanimous of their view that the one viable resolution is the institution of two states residing at peace with one another. They assist the statehood of the Palestinian folks. Nonetheless, South Asian governments differ within the specifics of what that will entail.

However, Hamas’ actions alongside realpolitik concerns (bettering ties with Israel) have made some nations much less sympathetic to Hamas, even when they assist Palestinian statehood. If such assaults proceed, Hamas would possibly discover even much less assist among the many non-Muslim nations in South Asia.