At a press conference held in New Delhi, internationally renowned peace negotiator and humanitarian Dr. K.A. Paul urged world leaders—including India’s leadership—to take immediate diplomatic action to de-escalate the growing conflict between Israel and Iran, warning that failure to intervene could trigger a wider global crisis.
Dr. Paul, who has worked with over 155 countries and counselled heads of state across political divides, expressed deep concern over the silence and inaction of major international bodies, including the UN, NATO, and several national governments. He emphasized that the conflict risks drawing in global powers and could spiral into a third world war if not urgently addressed.
“The world leadership is missing in action. Trillions are spent on war while billions starve. This is unacceptable,” he said.
He appealed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Members of Parliament to uphold India’s legacy as a land of peace, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
“If we call ourselves Vishwaguru, we must lead now—not with weapons, but with wisdom,” he said.
Citing his experience as a state guest under multiple Israeli and Iranian administrations, Dr. Paul noted that he had been in touch with political parties and U.S. lawmakers to rally international pressure for a ceasefire. He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions, calling them “dangerous and deeply irresponsible,” and warned that the military offensive against Iran and Gaza violates international norms.
While condemning the October 7th Hamas attacks, Dr. Paul equally condemned the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and called for restraint from all parties involved.
“One innocent life is more valuable than all the wealth of this world,” he stated, urging both Israeli and Iranian leadership to give peace a chance.
Dr. Paul concluded by calling on India, the G7, and global influencers to initiate back-channel diplomacy, dispatch peace delegations, and revive the spirit of international cooperation to prevent further loss of life.