India backs Palestine’s UN membership, announces new projects at Brussels donor meet

New Delhi: India reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution and Palestine’s membership of the United Nations at the second ministerial meeting of the Palestine Donor Group in Brussels on Monday. India was represented by Sripriya Ranganathan, secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), who used the forum to announce fresh development assistance for the Palestinian people.

Ranganathan said India had been a long-standing partner of the Palestinian people, and reaffirmed New Delhi’s continued backing for a negotiated two-state solution, under which an independent Palestinian state would exist alongside Israel.

She highlighted India’s ongoing development assistance to Palestine, including capacity-building programmes and humanitarian aid, and announced new projects in healthcare, education, rehabilitation and vocational training. Ranganathan said India’s assistance remains demand-driven, shaped by priorities identified by the Palestinian side, and also covers women’s empowerment and institution-building.

The meeting was jointly organized by the European Commission and the Palestinian Authority. It brought together about 65 countries and international organizations, including EU member states and other international partners and financial institutions. The discussions focused on financial support for the Palestinian authority, humanitarian assistance, and early recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

India has previously served eight terms on the UN security council and has consistently maintained diplomatic ties with both Israel and Palestine, while advocating dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Brussels announcement reaffirms this position even as India continues to expand its strategic relationship with Israel.