PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in New York and expressed “deep concern” at the humanitarian situation in Gaza, reaffirming India's support for the early restoration of peace and stability in the region. The meeting on Sunday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, came days after India abstained at the UNGA on a resolution that demanded that Israel bring to an end, “without delay”, its “unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” within 12 months. The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution, with 124 nations voting in favour, 14 against, and 43 abstentions. Besides India, the other countries which abstained included Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Nepal, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. “Met President Mahmoud Abbas in New York. Reiterated India's support for early restoration of peace and stability in the region. Exchanged views of further strengthening long-standing friendship with the people of Palestine,” Modi said in a post on X. “PM @narendramodi met H.E. Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestine, on the sidelines of UNGA today,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. Modi “expressed deep concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and reaffirmed India's continued support to the people of Palestine,” he said. India has underscored its commitment towards a just, peaceful and lasting solution to the Israel-Palestine issue and reiterated that only a two-state solution achieved through direct and meaningful negotiations between both sides will lead to enduring peace. Met President Mahmoud Abbas in New York. Reiterated India’s support for early restoration of peace and stability in the region. Exchanged views of further strengthening long standing friendship with the people of Palestine. pic.twitter.com/LnmAm7dDax — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2024 The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing Ministry of Health in Gaza estimates, has said that between October 7, 2023 and September 16 this year, at least 41,226 Palestinians have been killed and 95,413 injured. According to the Israeli military and official Israeli sources cited in the media, more than 1,542 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed in this period, the majority on October 7, when the Hamas attacked Israel. Modi had spoken to Abbas in October last year, when he conveyed condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza, and reiterated India's “long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue”. That phone call had come days after Modi spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when he described the October 7 attacks as “terror attacks” and said India stands firmly in solidarity with Israel. Later, in its first official statement on the Israel-Hamas war, India sought to balance its position. The phone call to Abbas was also seen as a balancing act, with the phrase “universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law” being aimed at Israel which is conducting aerial strikes in Gaza. Meanwhile, Modi also held talks with Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. “Had a very good meeting with Prime Minister K P Oli in New York. The India-Nepal friendship is very robust and we look forward to adding even more momentum to our ties. Our talks focused on issues such as energy, technology and trade,” he said in a post on X. “The two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest to strengthen cooperation in all areas of age-old, multi-faceted and expanding partnership,” the MEA said. Modi also accepted Oli's invitation to visit Nepal. Since taking charge in July, this is Oli's first foreign trip, breaking the tradition of visiting a neighbouring country first. Modi also met Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah and discussed ways to deepen “historical linkages” and “people-to-people contacts”.
