New Delhi

In what could turn out to be the most effective effort in bringing about a ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip by the world community so far, India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday.

Taking to social media platform 'X', the Israeli PM office said, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and updated him on recent developments in the fighting in the Gaza Strip. The sides also discussed the effort to release the hostages and the issue of humanitarian assistance."

The two discussed the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. The meeting also focused on efforts to release hostages and provide humanitarian assistance. Netanyahu told Doval about the progress Israel has made in its war against Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and updated him on recent developments in the fighting in the Gaza Strip. The sides also discussed the effort to release the hostages and the issue of humanitarian assistance. pic.twitter.com/EJzlR2dupE

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) March 11, 2024

This meeting becomes quite significant and promising as Doval has had a good repo with the Israeli PM for more than two decades, especially due to India-Israel cooperation in the war on terror.

Doval’s interaction with PM Netanyahu, who despite meeting with several world leaders has been firm in his resolve to decimate Hamas leadership and those holding the hostages, could be the most effective action in bringing about peace in the region. 

Sources said NSA Ajit Doval was in Israel on Tuesday and his presence could make a ceasefire during Ramzan a possibility in the conflict-torn region.

Sources said Doval is likely to visit the region again in his continued efforts to bring an end to the war in the region and also release the hostages.

According to sources, NSA Doval is of the view that the atrocities in the region should end or else controlling the situation in the region will become more difficult with every passing day. The condition is getting bad to worse and children are suffering the most.

NSA Doval, who is known for his negotiating skills in conflict situations, has had a remarkable record in all the past mediatory efforts he has made to resolve the conflicts within and outside India.

"The Director of the National Security Council, the Prime Minister's Foreign Policy Advisor, and the Indian Ambassador to Israel also participated in the meeting," Israeli PMO said.

Earlier, Netanyahu on Sunday reiterated his stand to begin military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, stating that Israel wants to ensure that an attack similar to October 7 won't happen again, as reported by CNN.

"We'll go there. We're not going to leave. You know, I have a red line. Do you know what the red line is? That October 7 doesn't happen again. Never happens again. And to do that, we have to complete the destruction of the Hamas terrorist army," he said.

Netanyahu said the operation would not last more than two months but did not provide specifics on the timeline. The Israeli PM also defended his policies in the Gaza Strip and responded to US President Joe Biden's remark that the Israeli leader is "hurting Israel more than helping."

"I don't know exactly what the president meant, but if he meant by that, that I'm pursuing private policies against the wish of the majority of Israelis, and that this is hurting the interests of Israel then he's wrong on both counts," Netanyahu said in an interview with Politico and German media outlet Bild, CNN reported.

Meanwhile, the Hamas political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said the militant group is still open to continued mediated talks with Israel after the sides failed to reach a truce agreement before Ramadan.

But he also insisted that a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the withdrawal of all Israeli forces is the only way forward to an agreement, CNN reported.

"We have established the most important principle for reaching an agreement, which is a comprehensive ceasefire and an end to the war on Gaza, the complete withdrawal of the occupation army from all the territory of the Gaza Strip," Haniyeh said in a televised speech Sunday.

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Under the leadership of Prime Minister narendra Modi, India has been taking initiatives in resolving global conflicts, may it averting Russia-Ukraine nuclear disaster or making efforts to bring peace between Israel and Palestine.