Prime Minister Narendra Modi late Thursday evening expressed India’s commitment to providing ongoing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people during a conversation with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. PM Modi extended his condolences for the tragic loss of civilian lives in the recent bombing at a Gaza hospital.
In the midst of the Israel-Hamas conflict, PM Modi stressed India’s determination to continue sending humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population. He underscored the shared concerns regarding the terrorism, violence, and the deteriorating security situation in the region. Furthermore, he reaffirmed India’s unwavering stance on the Israel-Palestine issue.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been intensifying since a surprise attack by the terrorist group on October 7, prompting Israel to declare war on Hamas and launch retaliatory airstrikes targeting Hamas operatives and their bases in the Gaza Strip.
The tragic explosion at a Gaza hospital, claiming the lives of numerous civilians, has garnered strong condemnation from world leaders. While Hamas alleges that an Israeli airstrike caused the devastating incident, the Israeli military has denied any involvement.
His statement and communication with the Palestine chief comes amid Western leaders, including US President Joe Biden visit’s to Israel on Wednesday and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is queueing up to visit Israel in a bid to prevent escalation of the Israel-Hamas war.
Ministry of External Affairs says:
During the weekly briefing on Thursday, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, underscored India’s commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to Palestine. He highlighted India’s significant support for Palestine and Palestinian refugees through substantial contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Bagchi noted that India has contributed a total of USD 29.53 million to UNRWA between 2002 and 2023. In 2018, India increased its annual contribution to UNRWA from USD 1.25 million to USD 5 million. India has also pledged an annual contribution of USD 5 million for the next two years (FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25).”