PM speaks with Mahmoud Abbas, reiterates support for Palestinian statehood

PM Modi expresses condolences to Palestinian President Abbas; India supports two-state solution and humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people. Congress and Rahul Gandhi also call for cease-fire and for Palestinians' right to self-determination.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 19 expressed his condolences to Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, for the loss of Palestinian lives in their ongoing conflict with Israel. The PM had earlier spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and also expressed India’s support to their efforts to defeat terrorism.

Echoing India’s official position, the Opposition Congress party also expressed support for the rights of the Palestinian people. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge called for an “immediate cease-fire” and for humanitarian assistance to the people of the Gaza Strip. 

“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,” Mr. Modi said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Mr. Abbas heads the Palestinian Authority, which is headquartered in the West Bank city of Ramallah. The Gaza Strip, however, is controlled by the Hamas militant group. Since the bombing of the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza City on October 17, the West Bank has witnessed major protests against Israel’s military campaign against the Gaza Strip.

Indian leaders have maintained communications with both sides in the conflict, which erupted when Hamas attacked Israeli targets on October 7 in an unprecedented, multi-level operation that killed nearly 1,300 people and took about 200 Israelis and foreigners hostage.

Apart from Mr. Modi’s personal conversations with Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Abbas, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has also spoken to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Faisal Bin Farhan and Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is understood that India’s conversation with other stakeholders is aimed at creating a network of dialogue to foster a solution to the current crisis and ensure the wellbeing of the hostages.

The PM had reached out to Israel immediately after the October 7 attack and condemned the killings by Hamas. This was supplemented by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which reiterated that India continues to seek a two-state solution where a sovereign Palestinian State will exist side by side with Israel.