PM Modi : Days after India abstained on UNGA resolution against Israel, Modi reaffirms support to people of Palestine

“Reiterated India’s support for early restoration of peace and stability in the region”, said PM Modi after he met Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestine, on the sidelines of UNGA in the US.

During his three-day visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held bilateral visits with several world leaders. On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, PM Modi met Palestinian President Mahmour Abbas, and expressed his concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“PM @narendramodi met H.E. Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestine, on the sidelines of UNGA today. PM expressed deep concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and reaffirmed India’s continued support to the people of Palestine,” the Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said Monday in a post on X.

PM Modi in another post stated

“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.”

The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution, with 124 nations voting in favour, 14 against and 43 abstentions, including that by India.

Israel and militant group Hamas have been engaged in conflict for nearly a year. The conflict started after Hamas attack Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,200 people and taking several hostage. Israel launched a counter attack on Hamas, carrying out military operations in Palestine. Gaza’s Health Ministry has said that more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed so far.

The conflict has renewed tensions in West Asia :

Last week, pagers and hand-held radios exploded in two days of coordinated attacks across Lebanon and parts of Syria, killing at least 37 persons and injuring more than 3,500. Most of those killed belonged to militant group Hezbollah, which has engaged Israel through shelling and rocket fire along its northern border ever since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.

On Monday, the Israeli military said it was conducting extensive strikes against targets of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. The pro-militant group Islamic Revolution in Iraq has said that it targetted the Israel military’s Golani observation base in the “occupied Palestinian territories”. The group said it had launched a drone attack on a target in the Israeli-occupied Jordan Valley the day before.