&w=3840&q=100)
'No substitute to peace': India calls for ceasefire in Gaza, release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas
India has called for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying that intermittent pauses in hostilities are not enough, considering the scale of humanitarian crisis that has struck the region.
India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harish P., delivered an address at the UN Security Council Quarterly Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East, where he also said that all the remaining Israeli hostages must be released immediately.
'The way ahead is clear, and India has been consistent in this regard. The ongoing human suffering must not be allowed to continue. Humanitarian assistance needs to be facilitated in a safe, sustained and timely manner. There is no substitute to peace. A ceasefire must be put in place. All hostages must be released. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable paths to achieving these objectives. There are no other fixes or solutions,' he said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.
#IndiaAtUN
PR @AmbHarishP delivered 🇮🇳's statement at the @UN Security Council Quarterly Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/T7NNvIXzqk — India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) July 23, 2025
India officially backs a two-state solution for Palestine, where a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine should be established within secure and recognised borders, living alongside Israel with peace.
What's going on with Gaza truce?
Hamas confirmed on Thursday that it has responded to an Israeli proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, after more than two weeks of indirect talks in Qatar have failed to yield a truce.
'Hamas has just submitted its response and that of the Palestinian factions to the ceasefire proposal to the mediators,' the Palestinian militant group said in a statement on Telegram.The response included proposed amendments to clauses on the entry of aid, maps of areas from which the Israeli army should withdraw, and guarantees on securing a permanent end to the war, according to a Palestinian source familiar with ongoing talks in Doha.
Negotiators from both sides have been holding indirect talks in Doha with mediators in an attempt to reach an agreement on a truce deal that would see the release of Israeli hostages.
With inputs from agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
UCLA faces uncertainty as Trump suspends $584 million in federal grants over civil rights probe
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is facing a major funding crisis after the Trump administration formally suspended $584 million in federal research grants, nearly twice the previously estimated amount. The move follows findings by the US Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division that UCLA violated civil rights laws by failing to address alleged antisemitic incidents on campus. This marks the first time a public university has had its federal research funding halted under the administration's growing scrutiny of higher education institutions. The implications are far-reaching, potentially disrupting scientific research, faculty-led projects, and student programs across multiple departments. Allegations tied to campus protests and civil rights protections According to the Justice Department, the suspension follows a civil rights probe that concluded UCLA acted with 'deliberate indifference' in allowing a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli students. The investigation cited incidents during the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests, when demonstrators allegedly blocked access to classes and other facilities. The federal government said UCLA's handling of these events violated both the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Susan Boyle Is Now so Thin and Looks Beautiful! Undo The university has denied wrongdoing but agreed to a $6 million settlement with three Jewish students and one Jewish professor who filed a lawsuit claiming their civil rights were violated. Chancellor Julio Frenk described the situation as a critical moment for the university. 'If these funds remain suspended, it will be devastating for UCLA and for Americans across the nation,' he said in a statement, highlighting the university's role in conducting 'groundbreaking research.' Funding cuts impact major research bodies The suspended grants span several federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy. These funds play a central role in supporting advanced research, scientific innovation, and faculty development. James B. Milliken, the newly appointed president of the University of California system, criticised the funding cuts, arguing that they do not serve the stated purpose of addressing antisemitism. 'The extensive work that UCLA and the entire University of California have taken to combat antisemitism has apparently been ignored,' he said, adding that the loss of funding threatens research that 'saves lives, grows our economy, and fortifies our national security. ' The university has agreed to enter talks with the administration in an effort to resolve the matter. As part of the lawsuit settlement, UCLA will contribute $2.3 million to eight organisations focused on combating antisemitism and supporting Jewish students. It has also established an Office of Campus and Community Safety and introduced new policies for managing on-campus protests. A pattern emerging across universities The administration's action against UCLA follows a similar approach taken with Columbia University. Last month, Columbia agreed to pay $200 million to settle allegations of violating federal antidiscrimination laws. That agreement restored more than $400 million in research grants. Officials have indicated that the Columbia settlement may serve as a model for how the federal government addresses comparable issues at other universities. The Trump administration's strategy appears to tie institutional accountability directly to research funding, using financial pressure to enforce compliance with federal civil rights standards. What this means for students and campus life While the legal and administrative outcomes continue to unfold, the immediate consequences for students are less abstract. The suspended funds support a range of university functions, including student fellowships, lab work, faculty-led research opportunities, and programs that many students rely on for academic and career development. A prolonged freeze could limit student access to research roles, delay ongoing projects, and reduce campus resources in the coming academic terms. For those in fields tied to federally funded research, particularly STEM and public health — the uncertainty introduces new challenges in an already competitive environment. UCLA has said it remains committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive campus for all students. As negotiations with the federal government proceed, the university community, especially its student body, is bracing for further clarity on how the situation will affect academic programs in the months ahead. (with AP inputs) TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
In Gaza, hunger as a weapon of war
The genocide and famine engineered by Israel in Gaza have raised new questions to a world that has continued to fail with answers. A humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions has unfolded in Gaza after the Israeli government imposed a near-total siege and prevented all aid from reaching the strip, while continuing military action. The situation may be political and diplomatic, but at its core is a deeply moral issue. During the Holocaust, the world did not have knowledge of the full extent of the atrocities. But the genocide in Gaza is taking place in full view of the world – a section of the international community is complicit by supporting Israel, while others are unable to stop it for various reasons. Evidence has emerged on widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease causing a spike in hunger-related deaths. Malnutrition levels among children under five have reached 16.5%..Israel has violated all tenets of morality and international law. The International Court of Justice has passed strictures against the regime and acknowledged the risk of genocide in Gaza. The United Nations and major international humanitarian bodies such as Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders have expressed serious concern over the situation in Gaza. More than at any time in history, hunger is being used as a weapon of war. Access to water is restricted and there are severe curbs on supply of fuel and other commodities. Not even basic medical facilities are available and offers of medical aid and assistance are turned away. As much as 92% of the houses in Gaza have been destroyed and forced displacement orders have been issued in about 86% of the territory. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, set up by Israel and the US, is a cruel joke, running just four distribution centres against the 400 that the UN and the other agencies had the failure of the indirect ceasefire and hostage release talks in Doha, there are reports of Israel planning a bigger offensive for the 'conquest of Gaza'. The talks had aimed at a 60-day truce, inflow of aid, and exchange of half of the Israeli hostages with jailed Palestinians in Israel. There is opposition in Israel to the extension of war, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sounded determined and US President Donald Trump supportive. The UN Conference on Palestine has proposed a two-state solution and some of the major countries, including France and the UK, have decided to recognise a Palestinian state. More than 145 countries have recognised Palestine. The question the world must answer is why it has failed to recognise and act on the basic human responsibility to the people of Palestine.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Israeli President demands truth after German media exposes fake Gaza photography
Tel Aviv [ Israel], August 7 (ANI/TPS): During a visit to Tallinn on Wednesday, President Isaac Herzog of Israel used a joint press appearance with Estonian President Alar Karis to call out what he described as Hamas-led propaganda efforts, citing recent investigative reports from leading German newspapers that revealed staged images from Gaza. Herzog contrasted these fabricated scenes with the very real suffering of Israeli hostages, exposing what he called Hamas' 'hypocrisy and manipulation."Standing alongside President Karis at the Estonian Presidential Palace, Herzog held up two photos: one of Israeli hostage Eviatar David, a Nova music festival attendee now emaciated after months in captivity; and another of Rom Breslavsky, who appeared in a recent Hamas video. Herzog juxtaposed these with a now-controversial image from Gaza showing Palestinians holding empty pots in front of a food distribution center. 'It was all staged," Herzog said. 'There was food in the next room — the hostages who escaped from tunnels told us this. The captors are not starving. Our people are."His remarks follow revelations from the Suddeutsche Zeitung, which published an expose showing how Hamas uses staged imagery to sway international opinion. According to the investigation, professional photographers — some working with international news agencies — were found directing civilians to pose with empty pots and in fabricated scenarios meant to convey starvation. 'At least some of the images were presented in a false or misleading context," the paper such photographer, identified by Bild as Anas Zayed Fatiyeh, was hired by Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency. Fatiyeh, according to the report, regularly posts anti-Israel content on social media, including expletive-laden messages and calls to 'Free Palestine." His photographs have been published in major outlets such as the BBC and CNN despite their questionable authenticity.'Why are German and international news agencies continuing to use his images when many are clearly biased or staged?" Bild manipulation of war photography triggered alarm within Germany's press circles. The German Journalists' Association (DJV) issued a statement warning of 'manipulation attempts through professionally produced press photography." DJV Chair Mika Beuster noted that 'all parties involved in this war — including media and intelligence services — are using the power of imagery like never before to shape public perception."A historian and visual documentation expert interviewed by Suddeutsche Zeitung added that while not all such images are outright fakes, they are often 'positioned a certain way or paired with misleading captions that tap into our visual memory and emotions."Herzog urged the international community to resist falling for such distortions. 'We do not deny the humanitarian need in Gaza," he said, 'but we ask the world not to fall for Hamas' lies. Condemn Hamas and tell them: You want to move forward? Release the hostages."He emphasized that Israel has drastically increased its humanitarian aid efforts, saying, 'In the last week alone, we've brought in 30,000 tons of aid — 30 tons by air yesterday alone. The UN has almost 800 trucks they could distribute — and failed to do so. So a lot could have been done."A special report by The Press Service of Israel on Thursday found that according to the UN's own numbers, a staggering 85% of the aid entering the Gaza Strip by truck since May 19 has been stolen. The investigation found that a combination of black market profiteers and inflation have made much of the aid in Gaza markets unaffordable for most sources inside Gaza told TPS-IL that much of the food in the markets originated from international aid for months — including American shipments — but is resold at inflated prices, sometimes 300%. Basic staples like flour and rice, originally meant for free distribution, are reportedly diverted to private Palestinian in Gaza City told TPS-IL, 'The flour — when it enters Gaza, they steal it. And now they're going to raise the price from 30 to 60 shekels [$8.80 to $17.70]. It's unbelievable."Professor Eytan Gilboa an expert in international relations and media at Reichman University in Herzliya, told TPS-IL, 'There is some hunger in Gaza, and it exists only in places Hamas is pursuing it, not in other areas."In 2024, experts told TPS-IL that two Gaza-based Palestinian freelance photojournalists comitted war crimes by entering Israel during Hamas's October 7 a Jerusalem-based media watchdog, found that freelance photographers Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa and Ashraf Amra entered Israel to photograph the attacks. They then returned to Khan Yunis and went on Amra's Instagram Live account and excitedly shared a video of a mob pulling an Israeli soldier out of a tank, urging Palestinians to join the attack. Mostafa's photos were published by Reuters while Amra's were credited to 'Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images."Approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 50 remaining hostages, around 30 are believed to be dead. (ANI/TPS)
