India expresses concern over worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza

New Delhi: India will construct a new hospital in the West Bank, work on which will start in the near future and get completed in two years, Palestinian ambassador to India, Abdullah M Abu Shawesh, said here on Wednesday. This coincides with the visit of a senior delegation from the Ministry of External Affairs to the West Bank. India is also supporting a vocational training centre which, Shawesh said, would begin "very soon".

On Tuesday, India expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, reaffirming its support for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. MEA secretary (consular, passport and visa, and overseas Indian affairs) and West Asia in-charge, Sripriya Ranganathan, laid stress on the urgent need for safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza.

In the West Bank, Ranganathan on Wednesday called on Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister of Palestine, and held discussions on strengthening the India-Palestine partnership and advancing bilateral cooperation across key areas of mutual interest.


The MEA secretary also called on Majdi Al-Khaldi, the diplomatic advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas, on Wednesday during her ongoing visit to Palestine. During the meeting, Ranganathan emphasised India's continued support for Palestine and discussed the further expansion of the India-Palestine development partnership, including new initiatives in health, education and skills development being launched during the visit.