India condemns arrest of Palestinian ministers

India says such an action by Israel has "no justification whatsoever" and sought their immediate release.

Decrying the arrest of some Palestinian ministers and elected representatives by Israel, India on Thursday said such an action had "no justification whatsoever" and sought their immediate release.

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New Delhi also voiced "deep concern" over continued "disproportionate" Israeli military action in West Bank and Gaza and asked all parties to renounce violence and resolve their differences through peaceful means.

"India condemns the wholly unjustified arrest and continued incarceration of ministers of Palestinian National Authority and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters in New Delhi.

"There can be no justification whatsoever for taking such action against the duly-elected representatives of the Palestinian people," he said.

Sarna said India "remains deeply concerned that Israeli armed forces have continued to maintain their large-scale operation mounted in West Bank and Gaza in Palestine in disproportionate retaliation" for the abduction of an Israeli soldier.

"We also reiterate our call for all parties to renounce violence and resolve their differences through peaceful means," the spokesman said.