PM Modi meets Palestinian PM Abbas in New York, expresses deep concern over Gaza humanitarian crisis

Prime Minister Modi is in New York on the second leg of his three-day U.S. visit, where he met the leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged India’s “unwavering support” to the people of Palestine as he held talks with the President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday (September 22, 2024) evening, during his visit to New York and the United Nations. The meeting comes days after India abstained on a U.N. resolution calling on Israel to vacate the Occupied Palestinian Territories within the next 12 months.

During Sunday’s (September 22, 2024) meeting, Mr Modi discussed “ India’s support to Palestine at the United Nations” the government readout of the meeting said.

India’s abstention vote last week was driven by concern of sanctions and arms export embargoes on Israel, The Hindu reported. The explanation of the vote said India wanted the U.N. “to build bridges” between Israel and Palestine.

“[The]  Prime Minister expressed deep concern at the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and the deteriorating security situation in the region and reaffirmed India’s unwavering support to the people of Palestine, including continued humanitarian assistance,” a government readout of Sunday’s meeting said.

“Mr. Modi emphasized that only a two-State solution would deliver peace, as he called for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, the release of hostages, and a return to diplomacy and dialogue,” the government readout said.

Mr Modi is not expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations General Assembly session this year, with Mr Netanyahu arriving in New York on September 24, the day after Mr Modi departs for India.

Modi Meets Nepali and Kuwaiti Leaders

Mr. Modi also held talks with Nepali Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Sunday. They discussed a range of subjects, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, listing hydropower cooperation, people to people ties and increasing connectivity.

The Prime Minister also met, for the first time, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince of Kuwait.

”They noted with satisfaction that the two countries were supporting each other with energy and food security requirements,” the MEA said it its readout of the meeting.

The Indian diaspora in Kuwait was also part of Sunday’s (September 22, 2024) bilateral discussions.

“ [ The ] Prime Minister thanked the Crown Prince for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in Kuwait, which is the largest diaspora group in the country,” the MEA said.

Forty five Indians died in a fire in a labour housing facility in Kuwait in January this year and their relatives had urged the government, as per reports, to do more for the safety of the diaspora in Kuwait.

(With inputs from Suhasini Haidar in New Delhi)

Published - September 23, 2024 08:20 am IST