![India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives a speech in New Delhi India on July 22, 2024. [Imtiyaz Khan - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AA-20240722-35200136-35200131-INDIAS_PRIME_MINISTER_NARENDRA_MODI.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday to implement a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports.
Modi urged deescalating the situation in the Middle East during a telephone conversation with Netanyahu.
“We discussed the current situation in West Asia. Emphasized the need to de-escalate. Reiterated our call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and continued humanitarian assistance,” said the Indian prime minister.
India refers to the Middle East as West Asia.
Cease-fire negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, facilitated by Qatar, the US and Egypt, are ongoing in the Qatari capital.
Officials will meet again in Cairo before the end of next week, hoping to reach an agreement to end the war in Gaza, according to a joint statement by Egypt, Qatar and the US on Friday.
Israel, flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an attack last October by t Hamas.
Since then, an Israeli offensive against the enclave has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians.
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