By Anadolu staff
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he reiterated the country’s “principled position” on the Palestine-Israel issue when he spoke Thursday to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas amid Israel’s non-stop airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip.
"Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza,” Modi wrote on X after speaking to Abbas.
He said India will “continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people,” and that he “shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region.”
Indian Muslim community leaders had demanded Wednesday that the government "continue" the South Asian nation's "long-standing anti-colonial and pro-Palestinian foreign policy."
Modi expressed “shock” Wednesday at the loss of hundreds of lives in an airstrike on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in northern Gaza. Nearly 500 victims were killed in the Israeli airstrike.
Despite India traditionally supporting a two-state solution for the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Modi called an offensive by Hamas that started the new conflict a series of "terrorist attacks."
India’s main opposition Indian National Congress party repeated a demand Thursday “for an immediate cease-fire and for humanitarian assistance to the beleaguered people of Gaza.”
Party President Mallikarjun Kharge said the “indiscriminate bombing on the hospital in Gaza and residential areas … is both unjustifiable and a grave humanitarian tragedy for which the perpetrators must be held accountable.”
At least 3,785 Palestinians have been killed in airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Thursday.
It said more than 12,000 victims have been injured.
The ministry put the Palestinian death toll in the occupied West Bank at 69, with 1,300 injured.
Israel has launched non-stop airstrikes on the Gaza Strip after Hamas attacked Israeli border towns.
More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed.
Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis, with no electricity, while water, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running out.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” to ease the “epic human suffering.”