In the middle of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, a new, unexpected conflict emerged in the Middle East on Sunday, April 14. Around two weeks after Israel bombed its consulate in Syria, Iran fought back with a direct attack on Israel, using 200+ drones and missiles. Most of the missiles were intercepted and destroyed by Israel’s Iron Dome system before they could hit the ground.
Iran says that it doesn’t want to indulge in more attacks, yet the threat of Israel taking revenge, leading to further escalation of this conflict is massive. But, where does India, which has stakes in both countries, stand in this issue of Iran vs Israel?
Let’s look at how India’s policy has changed over time on issues related to the conflict in the Middle East from Oct 7 to April 14.
India’s stand on Israel & Palestine
Indian PM Narendra Modi tweeted in support of Israel after the events of October 7, “Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour”.
The whole world was a bit surprised at such open support from India to Israel. Traditionally, India had maintained its
relationship with Israel in a low-key manner on the world stage. But why? Well, the images that emerged from Israel at that time were very similar to the ones etched in India’s collective memory regarding terrorist attacks, especially the
Mumbai terror attacks of 2009. People coming from a region across the border and wreaking havoc by killing innocent lives, there was nothing unusual in the Indian government and public support for Israel after that horrible incident.
India also did not condemn Israel in the United Nations Security Council when resolutions regarding the same were presented there. It either voted in NO or abstained from taking part in the process.
Now, comes the Interesting part- India backed the United Nations resolutions against Israel’s illegal settlements in the Palestinian areas, violations of the human rights of Palestinians by Israel, and the Palestinians’ right to have their own sovereign, independent state.
What’s even more intriguing is- India officially does not designate Hamas as a terrorist organization and repeatedly supports the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. India and Palestine also maintain embassies in each other’s respective countries and enjoy full diplomatic relations.
Iran vs Israel: India’s Dilemma
For India, a conflict between Iran and Israel is a much bigger concern. A huge number of Indian-origin people live in Israel
( 85k +) as well as Indian workers(18,000+) who work in the sectors of I.T., Construction, as well as in the nursing field as caregivers. Recently, India and Israel also signed an agreement to send around 1,500 workers to Israel, 65 of which have been already sent to Israel as the first batch. India also collaborates with Israel, a leader in defense technology to develop its own military muscle.
On the other hand, around
(5k+) Indian citizens are currently residing in Iran. India is also in collaboration with Iran on various projects, the Chabahar Port development project being the obvious one. The conflict between Israel and Iran has already started to impact India negatively. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized a ship linked to an Israeli Businessman-
MSC ARIES in the Strait of Hormuz with an
Indian crew of 17 members. The Indian foreign minister updated on Twitter regarding this incident on Sunday, April 14.
Spoke to Iranian FM @Amirabdolahian this evening.
Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries.
Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy.
Agreed to remain…
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) April 14, 2024
Although Iran has agreed to let Indian representatives meet the crew, these kinds of incidents might happen again, if the conflict between Iran and Israel persists.
India also issued an
advisory for its citizens who wanted to travel to Iran and Israel in the current times, advising them not to travel to these countries until further notice.
Indian Interests in the Middle East
India’s relations with the Middle East have improved immensely over time. The Middle East, especially the Gulf countries, is India’s main supplier of crude oil. Supply disruptions and increases in crude oil prices, which are already high due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, will negatively impact India for sure.
Millions of Indians call the Middle East home, working hard and sending money back. The major share of this money comes from countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. These remittances are a vital source of income for many Indian families, and strong ties with these countries ensure their well-being. The governments of the Middle East as well as their citizens are staunch supporters of Palestine.
India does not want to jeopardize its own relations with the Arab countries in the region over any conflict, which does not impact its own territorial integrity directly.
Indian companies are involved in major infrastructure projects across the region, from ports and logistics facilities to power plants and renewable energy initiatives. Its stakes in countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are particularly high due to the mutual investments.
An India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor was also announced last year at the G20 meetings in India and was hailed as a game-changer for the connectivity between Asia and Europe. In the wake of all this, a peaceful Middle East is essential for the security and fulfillment of India’s interests in the region.
Conclusion
The year 2024 should not be remembered for its conflicts, whether Israel vs Palestine, Russia vs Ukraine, or Iran vs Israel. There is an urgent need for measures that bridge the divide between Israelis and Palestinians. Each negotiated agreement will replace the drones with dialogue, and innocent civilians will be able to live without death looming over their heads in the form of missile attacks. India has tried to take a balanced approach, and it will continue to do so on the world stage.
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