India well-placed to play role to defuse crisis: Palestine envoy Alhaija

India's solidarity with the Palestinian cause dates back to Mahatma Gandhi's time and its rising global stature and influence over all key players in West Asia make it well-placed to play a crucial role in defusing the crisis arising out of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Palestine Ambassador Adnan Abu Alhaija said on Tuesday.

In an interview to PTI, Alhaija particularly noted that India is a "friend" for both Israel and Palestine and it is "qualified" to work towards bringing down the tensions and contribute towards a solution to the Palestine issue.

Alhaija said India can get in touch with the European countries, the US, countries in West Asia and build "pressure" on the Israelis to work towards peace, which, he said, is refusing so far.

"India knows what is the Palestinian cause from the beginning; since the time of Mahatma Gandhi. So, they are qualified to play that role, especially as India is a friend of both (Palestine and Israel)," he said. The ambassador noted that India has been supportive of the Palestinian cause.

"India is a very important country. I think, (India) can lead in this matter....India can play a good role," he said.