"India provided over USD 175 mn in aid to Palestine": Indian Envoy to UN
New York, July 1
Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish on Tuesday highlighted that India has provided over USD 175 million in assistance to the Palestinian people.
While delivering India's statement at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Pledging Conference, Harish said that India supports a negotiated two-State solution leading to the establishment of sovereign Palestine.
In a post on X, he said, "Delivered India's statement at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Pledging Conference held at UN today. UNRWA plays a vital role in assisting Palestine refugees. India has provided over USD 175 million in assistance, including development and humanitarian support to the Palestinian people. India remains a committed contributor to UNRWA, including a recent USD 5 million pledge. India supports a negotiated two-State solution leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine, living within secure and recognized borders, side by side with Israel in peace and security."
Ambassador Harish noted that the situation in Gaza is fragile as it is plagued with humanitarian crises.
"The backdrop of today's meeting is significant. While the guns may have fallen silent in West Asia, the situation remains disturbingly fragile. In particular, the suffering of the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza, continues unabated. The loss of civilian lives, large-scale displacement, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and severe shortages, particularly of food, fuel, medicines and essential services have created a major humanitarian crisis. Normalcy is a distant dream for the Palestinian people. This must change. They have the same right to lead normal lives, that the rest of us have," he noted.
Harish said that India's efforts are directed at addressing the humanitarian needs and aspirations of Palestinian people.
"India's engagements with UNRWA are guided by its unwavering support for the Palestinian people and efforts aimed at addressing their humanitarian needs and aspirations. Overall, our endeavour has been to make a lasting impact on the daily lives of the Palestinian people. We continue to undertake human-centric projects towards this purpose and we have provided assistance worth USD 175 million to the people of Palestine and this includes projects worth USD 40 million which are at various stages of implementation," he said.
Ambassador Harish noted that India sent 150 tonnes of such aid in the last three years alone.
"India also provides humanitarian assistance and disaster relief material, including emergency and general use medicines. The scale of such support has been around 150 tonnes in the last three years alone. We have received a request for life saving medicines from Palestine, which we shall be delivering soon. We treat UNRWA as a development partner, complementing our own bilateral initiatives towards realizing our vision," he said.
Ambassador Harish said that India supports a negotiated two-State solution leading to the establishment of a sovereign and independent and viable State of Palestine, living within secure and recognized borders, side by side with Israel in peace and security.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see India taking a principled stand on the two-state solution. The situation in Gaza is heartbreaking. But I wish our government would also use this platform to condemn the violence from both sides more clearly. Peace can't be one-sided. 🙏
India's consistent support for Palestine is well-known. But I'm curious how this aligns with our growing strategic ties with Israel. We need to balance both relationships carefully. The $175 million is generous, but let's not forget our own domestic needs—many in India still lack basics like clean water and healthcare.
Finally, some good news from the UN. India has always been a soft power giant, and this aid is a testament to that. The two-state solution is the only way forward—both Israel and Palestine deserve to live in peace. I just hope the international community follows India's lead instead of paying lip service. 🇮🇳✨
While the aid is appreciated, I wonder about its long-term impact. 150 tonnes of medicines and food over 3 years is good, but is it sustainable? We need more than just emergency aid—we need to address the root cause. India should push harder for a ceasefire and diplomatic talks. Otherwise, it's just a band-aid on a deep wound.
It's heartening to see India playing a constructive role in the Middle East. The mention of a 'viable State of Palestine' living 'side by side with Israel' is exactly the balanced approach needed. Too often, this conflict is reduced to one-sided narratives. India's voice matters, and I'm proud of this stance
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