Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar has expressed deep gratitude for the support of the Indian people, acknowledging their solidarity with Israel during challenging times. Speaking to ANI, Azar said, “We are very grateful that India recognises our right to self-defence. We are enjoying overwhelming support from the Indian people. It is warming our hearts.”
The ambassador highlighted the strong bilateral ties between Israel and India and underscored the importance of continued collaboration. “We will continue working with India to promote cooperation in the region,” he stated.
Azar also spoke about India’s potential role in fostering stability and development in the region. “India has an amazing role to play as it can bring more investments to this region,” he said.
Addressing the ongoing ceasefire agreement with Hamas, Azar described it as a “significant juncture,” explaining its dual importance. “It bears the potential of both bringing back our hostages and ensuring that Hamas doesn’t commit the horrible massacre they did on October 7, 2023,” he noted.
He detailed the phased process of the hostage return under the agreement. “It is a gradual path; we are getting back 33 hostages in the next 42 days. We will engage in negotiations on the second path. We are willing to continue the ceasefire provided that we get our hostages and Hamas doesn’t remain there,” Azar added.
The ambassador also addressed debates surrounding the credit for the Israel-Gaza ceasefire, acknowledging the contributions of both outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden and incoming President Donald Trump. “The ceasefire was thanks to many elements who were part of the negotiations, including both the incoming and outgoing U.S. administrations. It was a collaborative effort,” he said.
When asked about the potential policy shifts in West Asia under the Trump administration, Azar expressed hope for expanding regional cooperation. “We hope that we can re-engage with the Trump administration in the expansion of the Abraham Accords and projects of regional cooperation,” he remarked.
Azar praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, saying, “PM Netanyahu has proven in the last 15 months that he will not be subject to pressure.”
The first phase of the ceasefire-hostage deal between Hamas and Israel was implemented on January 19, following an earlier weeklong ceasefire in November 2023, during which over 100 hostages were freed.
The developments come in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and the abduction of more than 200 individuals. In response, Israel launched a counter-offensive in Gaza, during which over 46,000 Palestinians have been killed.
