India Pledges Continued Support for Palestinian Refugees with $2.5 Million Contribution to UNRWA
India has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Palestinian refugees by providing a second tranche of $2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for the financial year 2024-2025. This contribution brings India’s total pledge for the year to $5 million, which was promised earlier this year. The announcement was made by India’s representative office to Palestine, which emphasized the significance of the contribution in the face of mounting challenges faced by UNRWA.
The Palestinian embassy in India expressed deep gratitude for India’s continued financial support, highlighting that this contribution is especially crucial given the growing pressure on UNRWA. The agency, which was founded in 1949 to provide essential services such as education, healthcare, and food to Palestinian refugees, has been under increasing scrutiny and opposition from Israel. In particular, Israel has been attempting to limit UNRWA’s operations, accusing some of its workers of having ties to Hamas and alleging their involvement in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
Israel’s Efforts to Ban UNRWA
On October 27, 2023, the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) passed legislation banning the operations of UNRWA within Israeli territory. The law accuses UNRWA workers of complicity in the Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in Israel and the kidnapping of over 250 hostages. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also stated that UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities must be held accountable, while maintaining that humanitarian aid to Gaza should continue.
The legislation also designates UNRWA as a terrorist organization, which has raised significant concerns about the agency’s ability to deliver basic services to Palestinian refugees. UNRWA has expressed its alarm over the potential humanitarian crisis that would result if its operations were to be curtailed, particularly in Gaza, where millions depend on its services.
India’s Continued Support Amid Global Disparities
India’s financial support for UNRWA comes at a time when many Western countries have either reduced or suspended their contributions due to concerns about the agency’s alleged connections with Hamas. In contrast, India has maintained a strong stance in favor of humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. India’s consistent contributions, including its latest $2.5 million installment, reflect its long-standing commitment to humanitarian causes and its role as a strategic player in defending Palestinian rights on the global stage.
India’s contributions are even more significant when viewed alongside the reluctance of several Western nations to fund UNRWA, following allegations that some employees of the agency may have ties to Hamas. This has placed India in a unique position of continuing to support the agency, particularly when the United States, one of UNRWA’s largest donors, has frozen its funding.
India’s Diplomatic Stance on Palestine
In addition to its financial support, India has also reinforced its diplomatic ties with Palestine. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar congratulated the people and government of Palestine on their Declaration of Independence Day and expressed India’s commitment to strengthening its developmental partnership with Palestine. India’s support for Palestinian rights continues to be a cornerstone of its foreign policy, with a focus on humanitarian assistance and promoting peace in the region.
India’s latest contribution to UNRWA underscores its role as a staunch advocate for Palestinian rights and its broader approach to supporting humanitarian causes worldwide.
