NEW DELHI: India has expressed deep concern over allegations that some staff members of the united nations relief and works agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees were involved in the deadly Hamas attacks on Israel. The country has also welcomed the investigations initiated by the united nations into these allegations.
As an important development partner of Palestine, India has been providing assistance to the nation both bilaterally and through the United Nations.However, India maintains a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We are deeply concerned at the allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 terror attacks. We also welcomed the investigations launched by the United Nations in this regard.”
India has also taken note of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) recent verdict ordering Israel to refrain from killing Palestinians in Gaza. The provisional measures pronounced by the ICJ have been acknowledged by the Indian government.
Established in 1949, UNRWA is the largest UN agency providing healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the termination of nine out of the 12 United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff members implicated in the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel, CNN reported. Following the allegations, several countries have suspended their funding to the organization. UNRWA is primarily funded through voluntary contributions from UN member states, along with some funding from the regular budget of the United Nations.
The Hamas attacks on Israeli cities triggered a significant counter-attack by Israel on Gaza. Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped over 220 others, some of whom were later released during a brief ceasefire. According to the Hamas-run authorities in Gaza, more than 22,000 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive.
India has consistently called for de-escalation of the situation and the creation of conditions for the early resumption of direct peace negotiations, aiming for a two-state solution to the Palestine issue.
As an important development partner of Palestine, India has been providing assistance to the nation both bilaterally and through the United Nations.However, India maintains a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We are deeply concerned at the allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 terror attacks. We also welcomed the investigations launched by the United Nations in this regard.”
India has also taken note of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) recent verdict ordering Israel to refrain from killing Palestinians in Gaza. The provisional measures pronounced by the ICJ have been acknowledged by the Indian government.
Established in 1949, UNRWA is the largest UN agency providing healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the termination of nine out of the 12 United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff members implicated in the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel, CNN reported. Following the allegations, several countries have suspended their funding to the organization. UNRWA is primarily funded through voluntary contributions from UN member states, along with some funding from the regular budget of the United Nations.
The Hamas attacks on Israeli cities triggered a significant counter-attack by Israel on Gaza. Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped over 220 others, some of whom were later released during a brief ceasefire. According to the Hamas-run authorities in Gaza, more than 22,000 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive.
India has consistently called for de-escalation of the situation and the creation of conditions for the early resumption of direct peace negotiations, aiming for a two-state solution to the Palestine issue.
