The Israel-Hamas conflict spreading in the region through shipping attacks is also impacting India

India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations R. Ravindra has said that the spillover effect of the Israel-Hamas conflict along with attacks on ships by Houthi rebels around India has affected the country's economic interests.

Addressing a high-level Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, he said the conflict over the security of commercial shipping in the Indian Ocean has a direct impact on India's own energy and economic interests.

He said that some attacks are taking place around India and this terrible situation is not in the interest of any side, and this should be clearly acknowledged.

Ravindra did not name the Yemeni Houthi rebels who carried out the attack or specifically mention the Red Sea where the incidents occurred.

The Houthi rebels have said they are attacking the ships in a show of solidarity with Palestinians protesting against Israel's offensive in Gaza.

The Red Sea connects the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal, which is the main link for India and Asia to the Middle East, Europe and beyond.

India's navy has said it is increasing its presence in the region and earlier this month one of its ships protected a commercial vessel under attack.

France, the Security Council president this month, called a high-level meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourn, which was attended by about 15 foreign ministers, including Russia's Sergei Lavrov and Iran's Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the situation in the Red Sea is extremely worrying.

The Houthi attacks are disrupting global trade, he said, and follow airstrikes by the US and Britain on Houthi targets in Yemen.

It is necessary to de-escalate tensions and all attacks on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea must stop immediately, he said.

He said a two-state solution for independent Israel and Palestine to co-exist is the only way to end the conflict.

Referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of a two-state solution, he said it was unacceptable and said it went against the strongest appeals of Israel's friends, even those sitting around this table.

He warned, this will increase polarization and embolden extremists everywhere.

Guterres said 1,200 Israelis and others were killed in horrific terrorist attacks launched by Hamas against Israel at the beginning of the conflict, with more than 250 taken hostage.

“Nobody can justify the deliberate killing, wounding, abduction of civilians, the use of sexual violence against them, or the indiscriminate launching of rockets toward civilian targets,” he said.

The retaliatory operations launched by Israel have been heartbreaking and devastating for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, where more than 25,000 people, mainly women and children, have reportedly been killed, he said, reiterating his call for a ceasefire.

Ravindra said India strongly condemned the civilian deaths in the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has created a dangerous humanitarian crisis.

There can be no justification for terrorism and hostage-taking, he said.

India has a long-term and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, he said.

Ravindra said India reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas.

He reiterated India's support for a two-state solution where the Palestinian people are able to live freely in an independent country within secure borders while taking into account Israel's security needs.

He said, this is the only path to the lasting peace that the people of Israel and Palestine desire and deserve.

Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State at the US State Department, said President Joe Biden believes that a two-state solution is the only path to lasting peace, as well as the only guarantor of a secure and democratic Israel.

Zeya, who is of Indian origin and is the highest-ranking Muslim at the State Department, said a strong, reformed and revitalized Palestinian Authority that can work more effectively for its people in both the West Bank and Gaza should also This should be part of the equation.

Strongly condemning Hamas' attack on Israel, he said that we regret that Russia, which has veto powers, has blocked efforts in the Council to condemn the Hamas terrorist attack.

They also called on Israeli leaders to do more to protect civilians and take possible precautions to minimize civilian harm in line with international humanitarian law.

He said the United States is deeply troubled by the unprecedented levels of violence by extremist infiltrators in Israel and we condemn the killings of Palestinian civilians.

Underscoring the devastating consequences of Israeli attacks on Gaza, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said there are two options – a cease-fire or a ceasefire.

He said Palestine should be made a full member of the United Nations, upgrading its current observer status to give it the right to vote in the General Assembly.

Many ministers also said the same thing.

Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohammed Hassan said Palestinians should no longer be treated as second-class citizens.

Israel's Gilad Erdan said the UN was ineffective in dealing with the problems of the Middle East, and was offering aspirin for cancer rather than going to the root cause of disease.

He said calls for a cease-fire made by some council members would expose the Israelis to another attempt at genocide because it would allow Hamas to regroup.