India reaffirms two-state solution, begins hospital project in West Bank, offers field hospital for Gaza
India has reiterated its commitment to the Palestinian people, pledging continued healthcare support and reaffirming its backing for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The message was conveyed during a visit to Ramallah by Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, who is the highest-ranking Indian diplomat to travel to the West Bank since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel.
During her visit, Ms. Ranganathan held meetings with senior Palestinian officials, including Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, Foreign Minister Dr. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, and Health Minister Dr. Majed Abu Ramadan. The Indian Representative Office in Palestine said discussions focused on strengthening the longstanding partnership and advancing bilateral cooperation across key areas.
India's expanding support to the Palestinian health sector includes essential medicines, anti-cancer drugs, an artificial limb fitment camp, and the proposed deployment of an Indian field hospital in the Gaza Strip. On Wednesday, Ms. Ranganathan handed over a consignment of medicines from the Government of India to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, reaffirming India's continued assistance to Palestinian healthcare services.
A major highlight of the visit was the groundbreaking ceremony for a 200-seat super-speciality hospital in Arrabeh city, located in the Jenin Governorate in the northern West Bank. Indian and Palestinian teams jointly launched the construction work on the hospital, which is expected to significantly enhance medical facilities for the local population.
In her engagements, Ms. Ranganathan reiterated India's support for a two-state solution and called for addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The visit comes amid ongoing hostilities in the region and international efforts to broker a lasting peace.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Palestinian Ambassador to India, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, held a press conference at the Palestine embassy. He urged the international community to act immediately to halt Israeli settlement expansion, forced displacement, and de facto annexation in the West Bank. He also called for accountability for what he described as "extremist Israeli settler terror" and demanded protection for the Palestinian people's fundamental right to exist.
Ambassador Abu Shawesh cautioned against the influence of "hard-right, fanatical and messianic" elements in Israeli politics, particularly with elections scheduled in Israel in October. He said that the situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, must be called by its name: "terror carried out by extremist, racist Israeli settlers."
The remarks highlight the high tensions in the West Bank, where settlement activity has been a major point of contention. India has traditionally supported the Palestinian cause and has consistently called for a negotiated solution that leads to a sovereign, independent Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel in peace and security.
The Indian government's decision to build a hospital in the West Bank and send a field hospital to Gaza underscores its commitment to humanitarian assistance in the region. These initiatives are part of India's broader engagement with Palestine, which includes capacity-building, technical assistance, and support for infrastructure projects.
The visit by Ms. Ranganathan signals India's continued diplomatic interest in the region, even as major international players push for a ceasefire and a return to meaningful negotiations. The two-state solution remains the internationally accepted framework for resolving the conflict, though its implementation has remained elusive for decades.
