Palestinian Ambassador to India Abdullah Abu Shawesh has said that the recent United Nations Commission’s report on Palestine is ‘only the tip of the iceberg’, arguing that the scale of suffering experienced by Palestinians extends far beyond what any single report can capture. Speaking with this scribe, the envoy welcomed the findings of the commission and reiterated Palestine’s call for accountability under international law.
Referring to the recently released UN Commission report, Abu Shawesh said Palestine had consistently demanded an independent international investigation into alleged violations committed before, during and after October 7, 2023.
“Our position has always been clear. Anyone who committed war crimes before, on or after October 7 should be investigated and held accountable. This is a matter of principle,” he said.
While praising the commission’s work, the ambassador maintained that the report documents only a small part of the humanitarian tragedy.
“The report contains painful evidence of what has taken place in Palestine, but it is only the tip of the iceberg. What Palestinians have experienced in Gaza and the West Bank during the Israeli war is far more devastating than what any report can fully describe,” he said.
Marking more than 1,000 days since October 7, Abu Shawesh said understanding the Gaza war requires answering four key questions, why the events occurred, what exactly happened, who bears responsibility, and how the international community should move forward.
According to him, any meaningful assessment of October 7 must take into account the broader historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including decades of occupation, displacement, refugeehood and recurring cycles of violence.
He also argued that several aspects of the events of October 7 remain disputed and should be examined through an independent international investigation rather than political narratives. “The entire international community has an interest in establishing the truth through a credible and impartial investigation,” he said.
The ambassador acknowledged the role played by international institutions such as the United Nations, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in documenting alleged violations and strengthening the legal foundation of the Palestinian cause.
He described the recent UN report as an important contribution to international documentation efforts but expressed concern that international institutions often struggle to ensure implementation of their decisions on the ground.
According to Abu Shawesh, documentation alone is insufficient unless accompanied by accountability and effective enforcement of international law.
Speaking about India, the Palestinian envoy said Palestine respects India’s sovereign decisions regarding its bilateral relations with other countries while expressing hope that New Delhi’s relationship with Israel could contribute positively to efforts aimed at achieving peace.
He also welcomed India’s support for a negotiated two-state solution. “India has maintained its support for the two-state solution and has continued extending humanitarian assistance. We value the historic friendship between India and Palestine,” he said.
Abu Shawesh maintained that the two-state solution continues to be the only internationally recognised framework capable of resolving the conflict.
He recalled that the concept has existed since the adoption of the UN Partition Plan in 1947 and said Palestinian leadership later accepted the establishment of a Palestinian state on a much smaller portion of historic Palestine in pursuit of peace.
The ambassador argued that achieving the two-state solution requires consistent implementation of international law and greater international efforts to advance negotiations.
When asked what guarantees Palestinians would require before entering into a lasting peace agreement, Abu Shawesh said the answer was straightforward. “The guarantee is the equal application of international law. Every country, without exception, should be subject to the same legal standards,” he said.
Commenting on wider tensions in the Middle East, the ambassador said lasting peace across the region would benefit all peoples and help restore international focus on resolving the Palestinian question through dialogue and diplomacy.
Concluding the interview, Abu Shawesh thanked the people and the Government of India for their longstanding support and reiterated his hope that India would continue promoting peace, justice and a negotiated two-state solution.Throughout the interview, the Palestinian envoy maintained that accountability, impartial investigations and adherence to international law remain essential for achieving a durable and just peace in the region.