Express News Service
Santwana Bhattacharya: It is not just the conflict in Palestine and the surrounding region but the entire world is thrown into a very difficult situation right now. What is the current ground situation?
Ambassador: The situation is very clear to the whole world. We have faced challenges with the new government in Israel. Nearly 260 Palestinian people in the West Bank were killed before October 7th.
They have confiscated lots of land in the West Bank. They are controlling the C area. West Bank is divided into three areas A is cities, B is towns and C is areas in between (61 per cent controlled by the Israel army). We aren’t allowed to even make one room for families living there. Even our farm produce is taken away. We will not forget what is going on in Aqsa mosque.
It is very sensitive for us. They are pushing for religious war. Hamas has reacted to all this. There are close to 2.2 million people living in a 65 square km area in Gaza. Most of them have large families and most of them are children. Those people are out of water, electricity, water, fuel, oxygen. The situation is the most aggressive in the world. The Israelis have the support of democratic countries like the US and Europe who claim to be humanitarian. The Western countries defend the Israelis as though Israelis have blue blood while Palestinians have dirty water running in their veins. This is what we see of the democracies in the world. They do not have the moral ground to call things bad in Ukraine.
ALSO READ | UN chief says Gaza faces ‘avalanche of human suffering’; Hamas says internet cut in besieged strip
Santwana Bhattacharya: After the Gaza bombing, there is a humanitarian crisis, besides collateral damage. India too had sent aid. How much has been received?
Ambassador: The supply in Gaza on normal days around 100 trucks would have been allowed to enter. However, till October 26th only 78 trucks are allowed. Medicines are not allowed to be sent to north Gaza. Our hospitals will collapse as there is no fuel. People collect diesel from their cars and send it to the hospital. They want to kill all our patients. The number of beds is very low to take care of wounded people. Till October 26thout of the 3500 wounded only half could get treated.
ALSO READ | UN warns that Gaza desperately needs more aid − an emergency relief expert explains challenges this creates
Santwana Bhattacharya: The hostage crisis and the Hamas attack have been reported as brutal across the globe. This is aggravating the situation more. Are any negotiations under progress?
Ambassador: When we went according to the Oslo Accord of 1993. We agreed to build our land in East Jerusalem which is 22 per cent of the total area. We are willing to take that. Yitzhak Rabin wanted peace with Palestine. But the Oslo accord wasn’t accepted and neither was the two-state solution. Nearly 61 per cent of our homeland is in the West Bank. The problem is not with Palestine. The issue with the US and the international community. The US doesn’t want a peaceful solution. The intention is to kill Palestinians or evacuate where they live.
Yeshi Seli: Why did Hamas attack on October 7th? Did it come as a surprise for you?
Ambassador: The attack was a surprise for everyone. But Israel had information. Israel has a server with for all mobiles in Gaza, then how did they not see this coming? Also, what Hamas has done is react to what Palestinian people have been going through. The West does not want us to live in peace and encourage Netanyahu. Wonder whether a ceasefire will happen after all the Palestinian people are gone.
Yeshi Seli: Can you share an update on the hostages? If they are released it may help restore peace.
Ambassador: Hamas has announced that they want to release 50 civilian people but Israel isn’t too receptive. The two Israeli women who were released were not even received by them, they had to go to Egypt after being released. If you ask me Hamas should release all hostages. But at the same time, we have not heard any Israeli officer condemn the attack on civilian Palestinians. What is shocking is that victims of the holocaust are making this a holocaust for Palestine.
Yeshi Seli: How do you see the role of India with Palestine? Will it help ease the crisis?
Ambassador: West Asia is important for India. The stability of West Asia too is important for India. India has good relations with both Palestine and Israel and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is respected by both. I have personally reached out to PM Modi to help in the ceasefire and help as Palestinians are not responsible for what is happening in Gaza. All World Leaders should intervene and stop this genocide. They are making Gaza into Leningrad.
Yeshi Seli: Who are the biggest supporters of Palestine at present? Which countries you would seek support from?
Ambassador: Jordan and Egypt are our supporters. Israel and Egypt have signed a peace treaty. Turkey too is supporting us. Some countries in Europe including Spain are supporting us. But the challenge is from the bigger democracies who support Israel including the US, UK, France, Germany and Italy.
Yeshi Seli: The Western nations have extended aid to Palestine too?
Ambassador: The question is when and where will we receive this aid? After we die? If they want to support the massacre we do not want aid. We have political hope and are looking for self-determination. We can live in peace with Israel as neighbours but not as slaves in our homeland. Every day is a challenge for us.
Santwana Bhattacharya: Is there an attempt from within Palestine to work on Hamas to bring some step back so the civilian population can be saved?
Ambassador: Discussions have taken place along with Qatar and Egypt. However, we should not forget that there are over 6,000 Palestinian detainees in prisons in Israel who are referred to as being under administrative detention. Palestinians can be picked up and put behind bars, and some children as young as 12 years old are picked up for stone pelting. We fear detainees being killed. Sentences are renewed and life sentences are for 100 years.
Yeshi Seli: So are you suggesting a swap of hostages and detainees?
Ambassador: Most of the detainees are civilians – including women and children. Israelis have dual citizenship and most are in the army so can’t be considered civilians. I would support releasing all detainees and releasing all hostages.
Yeshi Seli: Are the hostages safe?
Ambassador: We don’t know. There was news that suggested that 50 have been killed but I am not sure. I would want them to do everything to keep them safe. But we don’t know where they are and whether they are safe.
Santwana Bhattacharya: Will this escalate into a bigger war, or will negotiations lead to a ceasefire?
Ambassador: We are looking for peace. We hope that a ceasefire is implemented as soon as possible. Stop killing, stop the war and start a new peace process to find a peaceful situation for Palestine.
Yeshi Seli: Will Palestine and Israel be able to arrive at a peace solution or are you seeking other countries to intervene?
Ambassador: We are fine in dealing with Israel. But Israel hasn’t met the Palestinian Prime Minister for the past nine years. We must reaffirm that we want peace but with our right to self-determination. We have a right to establish our state. We will not be slaves and have the right to live in peace.
Santwana Bhattacharya: Is the two-nation resolution the best way to resolve it?
Ambassador: Internationally many countries support the two-nation theory but we can live with Israel as one state too. There should be permission to have free and fair elections. East Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine. In the end, we are one people. The land has been occupied. We can also live and co-exist as peaceful neighbours. Hope we find peace and the international community should help us find peace. Else, the next conflict will be worse than this one. Follow channel on WhatsApp
Santwana Bhattacharya: It is not just the conflict in Palestine and the surrounding region but the entire world is thrown into a very difficult situation right now. What is the current ground situation?
Ambassador: The situation is very clear to the whole world. We have faced challenges with the new government in Israel. Nearly 260 Palestinian people in the West Bank were killed before October 7th.
They have confiscated lots of land in the West Bank. They are controlling the C area. West Bank is divided into three areas A is cities, B is towns and C is areas in between (61 per cent controlled by the Israel army). We aren’t allowed to even make one room for families living there. Even our farm produce is taken away. We will not forget what is going on in Aqsa mosque.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
It is very sensitive for us. They are pushing for religious war. Hamas has reacted to all this. There are close to 2.2 million people living in a 65 square km area in Gaza. Most of them have large families and most of them are children. Those people are out of water, electricity, water, fuel, oxygen. The situation is the most aggressive in the world. The Israelis have the support of democratic countries like the US and Europe who claim to be humanitarian. The Western countries defend the Israelis as though Israelis have blue blood while Palestinians have dirty water running in their veins. This is what we see of the democracies in the world. They do not have the moral ground to call things bad in Ukraine.
ALSO READ | UN chief says Gaza faces ‘avalanche of human suffering’; Hamas says internet cut in besieged strip
Santwana Bhattacharya: After the Gaza bombing, there is a humanitarian crisis, besides collateral damage. India too had sent aid. How much has been received?
Ambassador: The supply in Gaza on normal days around 100 trucks would have been allowed to enter. However, till October 26th only 78 trucks are allowed. Medicines are not allowed to be sent to north Gaza. Our hospitals will collapse as there is no fuel. People collect diesel from their cars and send it to the hospital. They want to kill all our patients. The number of beds is very low to take care of wounded people. Till October 26thout of the 3500 wounded only half could get treated.
ALSO READ | UN warns that Gaza desperately needs more aid − an emergency relief expert explains challenges this creates
Santwana Bhattacharya: The hostage crisis and the Hamas attack have been reported as brutal across the globe. This is aggravating the situation more. Are any negotiations under progress?
Ambassador: When we went according to the Oslo Accord of 1993. We agreed to build our land in East Jerusalem which is 22 per cent of the total area. We are willing to take that. Yitzhak Rabin wanted peace with Palestine. But the Oslo accord wasn’t accepted and neither was the two-state solution. Nearly 61 per cent of our homeland is in the West Bank. The problem is not with Palestine. The issue with the US and the international community. The US doesn’t want a peaceful solution. The intention is to kill Palestinians or evacuate where they live.
Yeshi Seli: Why did Hamas attack on October 7th? Did it come as a surprise for you?
Ambassador: The attack was a surprise for everyone. But Israel had information. Israel has a server with for all mobiles in Gaza, then how did they not see this coming? Also, what Hamas has done is react to what Palestinian people have been going through. The West does not want us to live in peace and encourage Netanyahu. Wonder whether a ceasefire will happen after all the Palestinian people are gone.
Yeshi Seli: Can you share an update on the hostages? If they are released it may help restore peace.
Ambassador: Hamas has announced that they want to release 50 civilian people but Israel isn’t too receptive. The two Israeli women who were released were not even received by them, they had to go to Egypt after being released. If you ask me Hamas should release all hostages. But at the same time, we have not heard any Israeli officer condemn the attack on civilian Palestinians. What is shocking is that victims of the holocaust are making this a holocaust for Palestine.
Yeshi Seli: How do you see the role of India with Palestine? Will it help ease the crisis?
Ambassador: West Asia is important for India. The stability of West Asia too is important for India. India has good relations with both Palestine and Israel and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is respected by both. I have personally reached out to PM Modi to help in the ceasefire and help as Palestinians are not responsible for what is happening in Gaza. All World Leaders should intervene and stop this genocide. They are making Gaza into Leningrad.
Yeshi Seli: Who are the biggest supporters of Palestine at present? Which countries you would seek support from?
Ambassador: Jordan and Egypt are our supporters. Israel and Egypt have signed a peace treaty. Turkey too is supporting us. Some countries in Europe including Spain are supporting us. But the challenge is from the bigger democracies who support Israel including the US, UK, France, Germany and Italy.
Yeshi Seli: The Western nations have extended aid to Palestine too?
Ambassador: The question is when and where will we receive this aid? After we die? If they want to support the massacre we do not want aid. We have political hope and are looking for self-determination. We can live in peace with Israel as neighbours but not as slaves in our homeland. Every day is a challenge for us.
Santwana Bhattacharya: Is there an attempt from within Palestine to work on Hamas to bring some step back so the civilian population can be saved?
Ambassador: Discussions have taken place along with Qatar and Egypt. However, we should not forget that there are over 6,000 Palestinian detainees in prisons in Israel who are referred to as being under administrative detention. Palestinians can be picked up and put behind bars, and some children as young as 12 years old are picked up for stone pelting. We fear detainees being killed. Sentences are renewed and life sentences are for 100 years.
Yeshi Seli: So are you suggesting a swap of hostages and detainees?
Ambassador: Most of the detainees are civilians – including women and children. Israelis have dual citizenship and most are in the army so can’t be considered civilians. I would support releasing all detainees and releasing all hostages.
Yeshi Seli: Are the hostages safe?
Ambassador: We don’t know. There was news that suggested that 50 have been killed but I am not sure. I would want them to do everything to keep them safe. But we don’t know where they are and whether they are safe.
Santwana Bhattacharya: Will this escalate into a bigger war, or will negotiations lead to a ceasefire?
Ambassador: We are looking for peace. We hope that a ceasefire is implemented as soon as possible. Stop killing, stop the war and start a new peace process to find a peaceful situation for Palestine.
Yeshi Seli: Will Palestine and Israel be able to arrive at a peace solution or are you seeking other countries to intervene?
Ambassador: We are fine in dealing with Israel. But Israel hasn’t met the Palestinian Prime Minister for the past nine years. We must reaffirm that we want peace but with our right to self-determination. We have a right to establish our state. We will not be slaves and have the right to live in peace.
Santwana Bhattacharya: Is the two-nation resolution the best way to resolve it?
Ambassador: Internationally many countries support the two-nation theory but we can live with Israel as one state too. There should be permission to have free and fair elections. East Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine. In the end, we are one people. The land has been occupied. We can also live and co-exist as peaceful neighbours. Hope we find peace and the international community should help us find peace. Else, the next conflict will be worse than this one. Follow channel on WhatsApp
