New Delhi, August 19, 2026: Palestine’s Ambassador to India, Abdullah Mohammad Abu Shawesh, has sharply criticised the current US-backed Gaza peace initiative and accused Israeli political leaders of using Palestinian lives and the conflict for domestic political gains.
Speaking at a press briefing in New Delhi, Abu Shawesh argued that Israel’s upcoming parliamentary elections are influencing political decisions surrounding the conflict. He alleged that competition among Israeli political factions has encouraged increasingly hard-line positions towards Palestinians.
Palestine Rejects Trump’s Gaza Plan
The Palestinian ambassador said Palestine has rejected the Trump administration’s Gaza peace plan in its current form.
The latest diplomatic effort has focused on issues including Hamas disarmament, Israeli military withdrawal and the future governance of Gaza. However, significant differences remain between Israel and other parties over the sequence and conditions of any agreement.
US envoy Jared Kushner reportedly met Hamas representatives in Egypt before travelling to Jerusalem for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The discussions did not produce a breakthrough, according to the report.
For the Palestinian side, Abu Shawesh argued that any serious peace initiative must address the broader political question of Palestinian rights and statehood rather than concentrating exclusively on Hamas.
Ambassador Accuses Israeli Politics of Driving the Conflict
Abu Shawesh claimed that Israeli domestic politics are contributing to the continuation of violence.
With Israeli parliamentary elections approaching, he argued that political parties are competing for support among hard-line voters and increasingly adopting tougher positions on Palestinian issues.
He specifically criticised policies relating to settlement expansion, possible annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank and the actions of extremist settlers.
The ambassador also pointed to statements by far-right Israeli politicians as evidence, in his view, of an increasingly aggressive political environment.
‘Palestinian Lives Are Not Campaign Currency’
The Palestinian diplomat’s comments were particularly critical of what he described as the use of Palestinian suffering for electoral advantage.
He argued that Palestinian territory and the lives of Palestinians should not become instruments of Israeli political competition.
The ambassador also rejected descriptions such as simple “friction” or “disturbance of public order” when discussing settler violence, calling instead for the international community to recognise what he described as extremist settler violence.
Debate Over Hamas and the October 7 Attacks
The ambassador’s comments also addressed the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Abu Shawesh described the attack as unfortunate but argued that discussions about the conflict should also consider the political and humanitarian situation that existed before October 7.
His comments reflect the wider Palestinian position that a lasting solution cannot be achieved by focusing exclusively on Hamas while leaving questions surrounding occupation, settlements and Palestinian statehood unresolved.
At the same time, Israel continues to place Hamas’s disarmament at the centre of discussions surrounding any Gaza settlement.
Palestine Looks to India
The Palestinian ambassador also spoke positively about India’s role and its relationship with Palestine.
He welcomed India’s support for Palestinian infrastructure and said there was potential for stronger India-Palestine trade and cooperation.
Abu Shawesh also backed India’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2028-29.
According to the ambassador, discussions between Indian and Palestinian officials are continuing on areas including healthcare and development. India has also maintained support for Palestinian UN membership and a negotiated two-state solution.
Why India’s Role Matters
India occupies a unique diplomatic position in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
New Delhi has developed strong strategic and economic relations with Israel while maintaining longstanding political, development and humanitarian ties with Palestine.
That gives India an opportunity to engage with both sides while advocating dialogue, humanitarian assistance and a political settlement.
For the Palestinian leadership, greater involvement from countries such as India could potentially help maintain international attention on the question of Palestinian statehood.
A Political Solution Remains the Key Challenge
The latest comments from Palestine’s ambassador underline the enormous gap between the competing visions for Gaza’s future.
Israel continues to emphasise security and the dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities, while the Palestinian side argues that any durable peace must also address occupation, settlements, Palestinian rights and statehood.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the central challenge remains finding a framework that can address security concerns while providing Palestinians with a credible political path toward self-determination.
For Abu Shawesh, the message is clear: Palestinian lives and territory cannot be treated as tools of electoral politics, and lasting peace requires a genuine political solution rather than another temporary arrangement.
