India frowns on Israel's stance on causing havoc in Beirut

NEW DELHI: Even as India started the largest single evacuation operation currently underway in Lebanon, the Indian government called upon Israel to release all the arrested Hamas ministers and politicians.

Condemning Israel for the continued incarceration of minister of the Palestinian National Authority and members of the Palestenian Legislative Council, New Delhi on Thursday asked Israel to immediately release the politicians.

“India condemns the wholly unjustified arrest and continuing incarceration of the ministers,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Navtej Sarna said.

New Delhi has reiterated that Israeli retaliation for the abduction of its soldiers is “disproportionate” and “unjustified” and that all parties should resolve differences through peaceful means.

New Delhi certainly does not want to put its ties with Israel on the line, but at the same time is facing domestic pressure from the Left parties to take a stronger line against Israel. The Left parties have even demanded that India should impose sanctions on Israel.

In an earlier statement on Lebanon, India had joined international voices in condemning both the Israel and the Hezbollah for the eruption of hostilities. Israel has arrested dozens of Hamas Cabinet ministers and legislators from the West Bank.

In just one night Israel had arrested FM Omar Abdel-Razeq, seven other ministers and 23 legislators of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Meanwhile, India on Thursday started the evacuation of 700 Indians, Nepalis and nationals of other countries that have asked for help.

The 700 people were evacuated by Indian Navy ship INS Mumbai, which is likely to reach Larnaca in Cyprus by early Friday morning. The Indian nationals will then be flown by a special Air India flight to India. Around 300 more people are waiting to be evacuated and the Indian embassy in Beirut is getting calls from others Indians there.

In the relentless Israeli strikes on Lebanon, so far three Indians have been injured and one is reportedly missing. The evacuations will continue over the next few days. India can only berth one ship at a time. The next proposal is to send in INS Brahmaputra, a smaller ship for evacuation.

All four ships can evacuate 1,000 people at one go. Admiral Chauhan of the Naval Headquarters said that there are a number of risks in docking the ships.