During his three-day trip to the United States, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York on Sunday. This meeting underscored India’s longstanding commitment to supporting peace and stability in the region.
Modi reiterated India’s strong support for the early restoration of peace and stability in the region. He also discussed ways to further strengthen the longstanding friendship between India and the Palestinian people. Expressing deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s unwavering support to the Palestinian people.
India has consistently advocated for a two-state solution, believing it’s the path towards a peaceful future in the region. This solution envisions the establishment of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, both living peacefully within secure borders. This commitment has been reflected in India’s voting record at the United Nations.
India’s concern over the deteriorating situation in Gaza has been repeatedly expressed, including after the recent Hamas attack on Israel. As a gesture of support, India was one of the first countries to condemn the horrific terror attack. The Indian government also demonstrated its commitment to helping the Palestinian people by releasing the first tranche of a $2.5 million contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) earlier this year.
India’s historical support for the Palestinian cause dates back to the 1970s when India became the first non-Arab country to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and its leader, Yasser Arafat, as the official representatives of the Palestinian people.
Prime Minister Modi’s meeting with President Abbas during his visit to New York reflects the significance India places on its relationship with Palestine and its unwavering commitment to peace in the region. The discussion underscores the ongoing dialogue between India and Palestine aimed at finding a lasting and peaceful solution to the complex challenges facing the region.
