New Delhi is uniquely positioned to play a pivotal role in fostering peace between Israel and Palestine, according to Palestinian Foreign Minister Warsean Agabekian. Speaking exclusively in the capital ahead of key diplomatic meetings, she emphasized India’s longstanding friendships with both nations as a foundation for mediation.
Agabekian arrived in New Delhi for the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (IAFMM) and the fourth India-Arab Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM), scheduled for 2026. She expressed optimism that India would actively engage in ongoing peace initiatives, particularly concerning Gaza’s reconstruction and broader regional stability.
In a candid interview, the minister highlighted the upcoming forums as vital platforms for discussing the Palestinian issue, peace plans, and matters of mutual interest to India and the Arab world. ‘India is a friend to both Palestine and Israel,’ she stated, underscoring New Delhi’s potential to build bridges and offer constructive ideas.
India will co-host the IAFMM on January 31 alongside the UAE, with participation from Arab League foreign ministers and its secretary-general. Agabekian stressed the importance of the New York Declaration, pledging Palestine’s commitment to work with partners to ensure its commitments are met.
Addressing the path forward post-declaration, she outlined a collaborative approach with signatory nations to advance toward independence and sovereignty. On invitations extended to India for Gaza peace plans by former US President Donald Trump, Agabekian advised New Delhi to weigh its global stature as an economic and democratic powerhouse.
She advocated for Hamas to lay down arms in the interest of Palestinian unity and condemned all forms of violence, insisting border disputes be resolved through international law and dialogue. As tensions simmer in the region, Agabekian’s visit signals a potential new chapter in trilateral diplomacy, with India at the center.