NEW DELHI: The Indian govt said Thursday it’s deeply concerned about Israel‘s allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in Hamas attacks on Israel, while welcoming a probe by the UN agency into the issue.
Unlike western countries, India has far not announced any cut in its funding of the UN agency, but it has continued to strongly condemn terrorist attacks by Hamas. India supports Palestine and Palestinian refugees through its contributions to what is known as United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and has contributed more than $36.5 million to the agency in the past 20 years.
“India is an important partner of Palestine. We have been extending assistance to them bilaterally and through the UN,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
“But at the same time, we have a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and in that regard we are deeply concerned about the allegations that the UNRWA staff was involved in the Oct 7 terror attacks. We also welcome the investigations launched by the UN in this regard,” added the official.
The official also said India had taken note of the ruling of the International Court of Justice that asked Israel to prevent death and destruction but stopped short of ordering an end to the military offensive.
The US, UK, Germany and Italy have already suspended funding to the agency which is said to have 13,000 employees in Gaza, most of them Palestinians.
Unlike western countries, India has far not announced any cut in its funding of the UN agency, but it has continued to strongly condemn terrorist attacks by Hamas. India supports Palestine and Palestinian refugees through its contributions to what is known as United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and has contributed more than $36.5 million to the agency in the past 20 years.
“India is an important partner of Palestine. We have been extending assistance to them bilaterally and through the UN,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
“But at the same time, we have a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and in that regard we are deeply concerned about the allegations that the UNRWA staff was involved in the Oct 7 terror attacks. We also welcome the investigations launched by the UN in this regard,” added the official.
The official also said India had taken note of the ruling of the International Court of Justice that asked Israel to prevent death and destruction but stopped short of ordering an end to the military offensive.
The US, UK, Germany and Italy have already suspended funding to the agency which is said to have 13,000 employees in Gaza, most of them Palestinians.
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