India backs Palestine's UN bid, declares aid

New Delhi: India has backed Palestine's bid for the United Nations membership and reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution to achieve lasting peace in the region, besides announcing fresh humanitarian aid for Palestinians.

New Delhi's position on Palestine was apprised by Sripriya Ranganathan, secretary (CPV), also incharge of West Asia at the external affairs ministry, during a ministerial meeting of the Palestine Donor Group, in Brussels Monday. In New York, external affairs minister S Jaishankar announced fresh humanitarian assistance for Palestine. He also announced support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

"UNRWA recognizes India as its top emerging donor," said Jaishankar. "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."


At the Brussels meeting, the secretary emphasised that India has been a longstanding partner of the Palestinian people, and underlined New Delhi's ongoing developmental assistance, including capacity building programmes and humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine. She highlighted that India's projects are demand-driven and largely centred on healthcare, education, capacity building, and vocational training.