Gaza Hospital Blast: PM Modi Takes Balanced Stand, Says ‘Civilian Casualties Serious & Continuing Concern’

As United States President Joe Biden landed in Israel on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a statement expressing his “shock at the tragic loss of lives in the attack at the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza".

This statement comes after Modi’s two earlier statements expressed solidarity with Israel post the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7. India has now expressed its condemnation of civilian casualties on both the sides, and maintained a fine balancing line.

“Deeply shocked at the tragic loss of lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and prayers for speedy recovery of those injured. Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern. Those involved should be held responsible," Modi posted on X, almost at the same time as Biden landed.

Biden, after landing in Israel said in the presence of Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu: “Based on what I’ve seen, it appears as though it was done (attack on Gaza hospital) by the other team, not you."

Earlier today, Biden said he was “outraged and deeply saddened" by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the “terrible loss of life that resulted." Biden said the US stands unequivocally for the protection of civilian life during conflict.

A diplomatic source explained: “India is against terrorism as well as civilian casualties in both Israel and Palestine."

With a very high number of over 500 civilian casualties in the attack and conflicting versions of whether Israel or the Hamas was behind it, India has taken a balancing line.

Israel has released videos to claim that it was not behind the attack on the hospital and a Hamas rocket misfired and hit the hospital. However, the Palestinian authorities have blamed Israel.

India’s earlier two statements from the PM were limited to condemning the October 7 strike by Hamas in Israel. At a press conference last week, the foreign ministry spokesperson reiterated the same, saying India sees the Hamas act as a terrorist attack, while reiterating India’s long-standing position that Israel and Palestine should co-exist peacefully.

The foreign ministry spokesperson had then said that there is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law, and there is also a “global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations".

He said that on Palestine, India’s policy has been long-standing and consistent.

“India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders side-by-side at peace with Israel," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson explained on October 12.