New Delhi reaffirms historic support for Palestinian cause, highlights deep bilateral ties
India has once again reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause by voting in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on the peaceful settlement of the Palestine issue and the two-state solution. The resolution, introduced by France, was adopted with the backing of 142 nations, while 10 voted against and 12 abstained. Among the dissenting votes were the United States, Israel, Argentina, and Hungary.
India was among the overwhelming majority endorsing the resolution titled “Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution”. The declaration called for immediate collective action to end the war in Gaza and pressed Israel to make a clear commitment to the two-state solution, which envisions a sovereign, viable Palestinian state coexisting in peace with Israel.
India’s Historic Support
India’s vote at the UN is consistent with its long-standing foreign policy. India was the first non-Arab country to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1974 and one of the earliest to recognize the State of Palestine in 1988. India has since consistently supported Palestine’s cause in multilateral fora, co-sponsoring and voting for key UNGA resolutions, including Palestine’s status as a non-member state (2012) and its membership bid at UNESCO (2011).
Political and Diplomatic Engagements
Over the years, high-level visits have underscored this relationship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a historic visit to Palestine in February 2018 — the first by an Indian Prime Minister. Earlier, President Pranab Mukherjee visited Palestine in 2015, while External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and MoS M.J. Akbar also visited Ramallah. Palestinian leaders including the late Yasser Arafat and President Mahmoud Abbas have made multiple visits to India, with Abbas’s last state visit in 2017 deepening bilateral discussions.
Development Partnership
India’s developmental assistance to Palestine has exceeded US$ 140 million, covering budgetary support, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and ICT projects. Landmark initiatives include the Palestine-India Techno-Park, the Jawaharlal Nehru Library in Gaza, the Mahatma Gandhi Student Activity Centre, and vocational training centres across Palestinian territories. Currently, India is funding eight projects, including a super-specialty hospital in Ramallah and women’s empowerment centres.
Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) such as children’s parks, educational initiatives, and urban development schemes have also been implemented. In 2021, India extended a Line of Credit worth US$ 50 million for sustainable projects.
Trade and Capacity Building
While India-Palestine trade remains modest (US$ 67.7 million in 2020), India exports marble, rice, pharmaceuticals, machinery, textiles, and engineering goods, while Palestine primarily exports dates and olive oil. Efforts to strengthen trade ties include MoUs between business chambers and regular Palestinian participation in Indian trade expos.
Capacity building has been a major pillar: India provides 50 ICCR scholarships annually for Palestinian students, along with 168 ITEC training slots in diverse fields. Over 1,300 Palestinians have trained in India, and cultural exchanges — from yoga events to youth delegations — have deepened people-to-people ties.
Multilateral Cooperation
India also contributes to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), enhancing its annual contribution to US$ 5 million since 2018. It is a member of the Advisory Commission since 2020. India has also partnered through IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) to fund projects in Gaza and the West Bank.
Balancing Relations
India’s vote at the UNGA highlights its enduring commitment to Palestinian rights, even as it simultaneously nurtures a robust strategic and technological partnership with Israel. Analysts note that New Delhi’s careful balancing act reflects its desire to support Palestine’s sovereignty while maintaining pragmatic ties with Israel, particularly in defense and innovation sectors.
Looking Ahead
As global pressure mounts for a peaceful resolution to the Gaza conflict, India’s support for the September 12 resolution signals continuity in its policy: advocating a sovereign, viable, independent Palestine, living side by side with Israel in peace and security. With developmental cooperation, educational ties, and multilateral backing, New Delhi continues to play a pivotal role in reinforcing the Palestinian cause on the global stage.
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