Palestinian Foreign Minister Dr Varsen Aghabekian Shahin has appealed to India to utilise its friendly relations with both Palestine and Israel to play a mediating role in resolving the Palestinian issue and ending the occupation.
Dr Aghabekian Shahin is on her first visit to India to participate in the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for January 31, 2026, in New Delhi. This is the first such visit by a Palestinian foreign minister since Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s trip in 2017. She arrived in the capital on January 29, 2026, for a three-day stay and is expected to hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the minister made these remarks during a press conference in New Delhi organised by the Palestinian Embassy. Diplomat Digital reported her recalling India’s historical support, stating: “In the 1930s, the people of India stood with the plight of the Palestinians. In 1947, the great Mahatma Gandhi voted no to the partition of Palestine. Afterwards, you have stood with us in our struggle against occupation.”
Highlighting India’s balanced diplomatic position, Dr Aghabekian Shahin stated that New Delhi’s friendships with both sides position it uniquely to contribute to peace efforts. “We truly believe that India can play a major role as a mediator between Israel and Palestine, towards ending the conflict and the occupation in Palestine,” she added. She pointed to India’s support for international law, UN resolutions on the two-state solution, and the New York Declaration as frameworks that could guide progress toward a sovereign Palestinian state.
The minister also acknowledged India’s past material contributions to Palestine, including assistance in constructing schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure facilities. She emphasised the significance of the India-Arab forum in addressing broader regional cooperation and stability issues, including the Palestinian situation.
Dr Aghabekian Shahin detailed the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stating that 82 per cent of the territory has been destroyed over the past two years. She cited figures of approximately 72,000 direct deaths and 172,000 injuries, noting that indirect casualties would push these numbers higher. Around 20,000 people remain missing, many presumed to be under rubble or held in detention, she said.
She urged the international community to enforce accountability and apply international law uniformly. “International law is clear about the responsibilities of an occupier, how to deal with the occupied, what needs to be done in times of warfare, and what should happen to a state that commits wrongdoing on such a scale,” she said, calling for sustained global attention to the Gaza situation.
India has historically been a supporter of the Palestinian cause, being among the early recognisers of the State of Palestine, with ties rooted in shared anti-colonial sentiments. While relations have evolved alongside India’s strengthened partnerships with Israel, the current visit and the upcoming India-Arab meeting underscore continued diplomatic engagement. The Ministry of External Affairs welcomed her arrival, reaffirming India’s commitment to partnerships with Palestine and the Arab world. Discussions at the ministerial meeting are expected to cover trade, investment, strategic cooperation, and regional issues, including Palestine.
The Chenab Times News Desk