New Delhi: India Monday announced fresh humanitarian assistance to the State of Palestine, as EAM S. Jaishankar launched New Delhi’s bid for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council in the city of New York.
Jaishankar, outlining New Delhi’s “contribution to global well-being”, underlined its support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) — a body that has increasingly come under scrutiny from the US and Israel over alleged ties to organisations such as Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“UNRWA recognizes India as its top emerging donor. We have only yesterday at the Palestine donor group meeting in Brussels, additionally committed to setting up a specialty hospital, an artificial limb fitment centre and a vocational training institute for Palestine. This is in line with our longstanding support for a two-State solution,” said Jaishankar.
Outlining the consistent support for UNRWA comes at a moment in time when India is perceived to be extremely close to the government of Israel. PM Narendra Modi made a visit to Israel in February this year, mere days before Tel Aviv and Washington launched strikes on Iran.
India has maintained its funding of $5 million annually for UNRWA despite funding freezes announced by other countries. Last month India released $2.5 million of the five million to UNRWA.
The US severed funding for UNRWA in 2024, which has since been reiterated by the administration of President Donald Trump. As a means to find new ways to send humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and West Bank, the US launched the “Board of Peace” as a part of the deal that ended the war between Israel and Hamas last year.
Jaishankar’s comments came as a part of his address to launch India’s bid for a UNSC non-permanent seat in 2028-2029. The Indian external affairs minister highlighted New Delhi’s role in global geopolitics while its consistent support for international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
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India attends EU-backed Palestine Donor Group meeting
India attended the European Union (EU) backed Palestine donor group meeting in Brussels Monday. The EU-backed group unveiled a EUR 900 million funding package for the Palestine Authority.
Backing the various donor groups, as well as the UNRWA—the main UN agency that has been handling humanitarian assistance, particularly in the Gaza strip—has been a consistent part of India’s policy on assisting Palestine over the years.
Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary (CPV & OIA) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) represented India at the meeting in Brussels, and also met with the incoming chair of the advisory commission on UNRWA during her visit to the Belgian capital.
“At the meeting, the Secretary emphasized that India has been a long standing partner of the Palestinian people, and reaffirmed India’s continued support to a two State solution, as well as to Palestine’s membership of the UN,” MEA said in a statement.
The statement added: “While stating that India is currently engaged in major projects in healthcare, women’s empowerment and institution building in Palestine, she announced several new projects focused on rehabilitation, health, education and vocational training.”
The Palestinian embassy in New Delhi last month appealed to Indian authorities to provide greater support to its healthcare sector, highlighting that after over 950 days since October 2023, the situation has become critical in the Gaza strip.
(Edited by Vidhi Bhutra)
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Palestine resonates in Global South. That cost Germany its chance to get a non permanent seat on the UNSC. Whether “ leader “, “ voice “ or simply “ prominent member “, Indian diplomacy should be sensitive to their feelings on this issue. This will also have a bearing on issue of a unanimous communique in BRICS.