New Delhi: India continues to uphold a balanced and principled position on the Israel-Palestine conflict amid renewed global momentum toward the recognition of Palestinian statehood. While India officially recognized the State of Palestine in 1988 and supports the two-state solution, it also maintains strong diplomatic and strategic relations with Israel, reflecting its commitment to peace, stability, and pragmatic foreign policy.
India reiterated its support for a peaceful resolution through dialogue and multilateral frameworks during the recent United Nations peace conference held in New York in July 2025. The conference, attended by over 120 countries, emphasized global efforts toward Palestinian recognition. However, India did not join the new wave of countries pushing for formal recognition this year, instead advocating for an environment conducive to direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
The international campaign for Palestinian statehood has intensified, with around 147 UN member states—three-quarters of the body—already recognizing Palestine in some form. Several Western nations, including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Portugal, have indicated plans to extend official recognition by the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September 2025. Their decisions have been largely driven by concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and frustration with stalled peace efforts.
Despite these developments, Israel remains firm in its position that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state undermines the peace process and emboldens extremist factions such as Hamas. The Israeli government has reiterated that peace can only be achieved through direct negotiations that ensure its security needs are met and terrorism is eliminated from Palestinian territories.
Supporters of Israel argue that premature recognition risks legitimizing groups that oppose peaceful coexistence and fail to represent the broader Palestinian population democratically. They emphasize that any move toward statehood must include concrete steps toward disarmament, political reforms, and mutual recognition.
India’s position reflects a careful diplomatic balance—support for Palestinian rights and aspirations alongside a deepening strategic partnership with Israel. As more countries align with one side or the other, India remains committed to dialogue, stability, and a solution that respects the sovereignty and security concerns of both peoples.
With the UN General Assembly on the horizon and geopolitical divisions sharpening, the path to peace remains complex. While global recognition of Palestine gathers pace, Israel continues to emphasize that real progress lies not in symbolic declarations but in negotiated, secure, and lasting solutions.