At the Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit held on Wednesday, Indian PM Narendra Modi welcomed the humanitarian pause in the Israel-Hamas conflict and highlighted a seven-point consensus among G20 members over the crisis.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said all 21 members of the G20, including the African Union, the nine guest countries and eleven international organisations participated in the meeting.
Seven Point Consensus on Middle East
In his inaugural remarks, Modi said, “Recent months have brought forth new challenges,” referring to the war in the Middle East.
Delivering my remarks at the @g20org Virtual Summit. https://t.co/u19xStkZX7
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 22, 2023
He highlighted that the insecurity and instability in the Middle East concern everybody. “It is also crucial to ensure that the conflict between Israel and Hamas does not take on any kind of regional form,” he stated.
During his concluding remarks, Modi laid out that there was a seven-point consensus in the G20 on the situation in the Middle East.
First, he said that all members strongly condemn terrorism and violence, and there is zero tolerance for terrorism. Second, the Indian PM asserted that the death of innocent people, especially children and women, is not acceptable.
Third, the PM noted that humanitarian aid should be delivered as "quickly, effectively and safely as possible." Fourth, Modi welcomed the agreement on humanitarian pause and the news of the release of hostages.
Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on Wednesday to temporarily pause the war in Gaza for four days, facilitating the release of about 50 Israeli hostages in return for 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons and a four-day humanitarian pause in Gaza.
Fifth, he emphasised that the Israel-Palestine conflict can only be resolved via a two-state solution. Sixth, the Indian PM said the restoration of regional peace and stability is necessary. Finally, Modi highlighted that “diplomacy and dialogue are the only way to resolve geopolitical tensions.”
He stressed that the G-20 was ready to provide all possible support towards all seven goals.
Global South, Reforms in Global Governance Structure
Modi highlighted that the 21st-century world will have to prioritise concerns of the Global South moving forward. “In this one year, the whole world has also heard the echo of the Global South in G-20,” he remarked. Additionally, the PM mentioned that the G20 has renewed faith in multilateralism.
Sharing my concluding remarks at the @g20org Virtual Summit. https://t.co/OegU6xYRNg
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 22, 2023
“The countries of the Global South are going through many difficulties for which they are not responsible,” he noted. Accordingly, the PM stressed the need for reforms in the global economic and governance structures to make them bigger, better, effective, representative and future-ready.