India Backs Sovereign Palestine, Gaza Ceasefire Plan, PM Modi Tells Arab Leaders

Last Updated:February 01, 2026, 08:01 IST

A joint declaration issued after the meeting said India and the Arab League had agreed to intensify cooperation to counter terrorism in all its forms.

PM Modi met Arab leaders in Delhi. (X @narendramodi)

India and Arab League nations on Saturday laid out a shared vision for strengthening two-way ties, backing the creation of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state living side by side with Israel and underscoring the need for international relations to be guided by the UN Charter.

At the second India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, hosted by India and attended by representatives from 19 Arab League member countries, both sides condemned cross-border terrorism and called for collective global action to dismantle terror networks, financing and infrastructure, and to bring perpetrators to justice without delay.

A joint declaration issued after the meeting said India and the Arab League had agreed to intensify cooperation to counter terrorism in all its forms, while strongly condemning the recent terror attack in Pahalgam targeting civilians. Arab League members reaffirmed their “full and steadfast support" to India in confronting terrorism, the declaration said.

The discussions covered a wide range of regional and global issues, including the Palestinian question, support for multilateralism, respect for state sovereignty, counterterrorism cooperation and reforms of the UN Security Council. Both sides reiterated their commitment to safeguarding international peace and security.

“The two sides emphasised the importance of international relations being founded on respect for the Charter of the United Nations, particularly the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs," the declaration said.

India and the Arab League also reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a “just, comprehensive, and lasting peace" in the Middle East in line with international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative. They called for the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders, living in peace alongside Israel, and supported the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.

The two sides welcomed the outcomes of last year’s Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit, which led to a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and commended the role played by Arab states — particularly Egypt and Qatar — along with the United States. They urged all parties to fully implement the ceasefire and noted the launch of the Arab-Islamic plan for relief, recovery and reconstruction in Gaza.

The declaration also stressed the need for sustained, unhindered humanitarian access across Gaza and the continued functioning of international and humanitarian relief agencies.

The meeting took place days after US President Donald Trump unveiled his proposed “Board of Peace" initiative aimed at securing lasting peace in Gaza and addressing broader global conflicts.

India and the Arab League further agreed to expand cooperation in energy, the digital domain, health and education. They condemned attacks by Houthi militias on maritime navigation and highlighted that safeguarding the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean is a shared international responsibility.

Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to act as constructive forces for peace, equity and sustainable development, and to strengthen South-South cooperation.

News india India Backs Sovereign Palestine, Gaza Ceasefire Plan, PM Modi Tells Arab Leaders

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