India sends medical supplies, disaster relief aid to war-torn Gaza via Egypt

“The material includes essential life-saving medicines, surgical items, tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, sanitary utilities, water purification tablets among other necessary items,” he posted.

Responding to the aid, the Palestinian Ambassador to India, Adnan Abu Alhaija, told The Indian Express: “I would like to thank the Government of India for this initiative. Yesterday, only 20 trucks entered Gaza. Before the siege, there were nearly 500 trucks carrying goods to Gaza and that was not enough.”

“So, after 15 days of siege, nothing entered Gaza, we need a lot, and let me say this border should be opened as soon as possible. All this humanitarian aid to the people, including water, electricity, medicine, petrol and oxygen should go to Gaza as soon as possible… All our hospitals are (facing) lack of medicine and oxygen, and petrol for the generators,” he said.

He said the Palestinian Authority had not specifically asked for aid, and it was part of “India’s initiative”. “We are looking for political support from India to Palestine for ending the siege of Gaza, so that all this humanitarian aid is sent to Gaza as soon as possible,” he said.

The first humanitarian aid convoy of 20 trucks entered the besieged Gaza Strip on Saturday, through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, even as Israel’s bombardment continued. It included food supplies and medicines but no fuel, which aid groups say is “absolutely critical” for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

Meanwhile, Israeli air raids continued on Saturday across the Gaza Strip, including in the south, where Israel had earlier asked its residents to relocate.

On Thursday, in his first phone conversation with Abbas since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the retaliatory Israeli strikes that have sent tensions soaring across West Asia, Modi had reiterated India’s “long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue”.

“Spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority H.E. Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. Shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region. Reiterated India’s long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue,” Modi had posted on ‘X’.

In his first reaction to the Gaza hospital incident, Modi had posted on ‘X’: “Deeply shocked at the tragic loss of lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza… Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern. Those involved should be held responsible.” This was perceived as a message to both Israel and the Hamas.

Modi’s call to Abbas came days after he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend solidarity. Following his conversation with Netanyahu, Modi had posted: “People of India stand in solidarity with Israel in this difficult hour… India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”.

Later, Delhi, in its first official statement on the conflict, sought to balance its position. “We have strongly condemned the horrific terrorist attack on Israel, and we believe the international community must stand together in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” MEA spokesperson Bagchi said.

“As regards Palestine, we have reiterated our longstanding position of advocating the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders, side by side at peace with Israel,” he said.

“We have also expressed our concern at the civilian casualties due to the ongoing conflict. We also remain concerned about the humanitarian situation. We would urge the full respect and strict observance of international humanitarian law,” he said.

The phone call to Abbas was perceived as a balancing act. For Delhi, the diplomatic challenge was to balance between the many sides in West Asia where India has deep strategic ties with Israel on the one hand, and Saudi, UAE, Qatar, Iran and Egypt – to name a few – on the other hand.