Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has written a personal letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for India’s intervention to help alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The development was confirmed by Palestinian Ambassador to India, Abdallah M. Abu Shawesh, in an interview with WION’s Siddhant Sibal.
According to Ambassador Shawesh, the letter conveys a direct appeal from President Abbas to PM Modi, asking him to use his strong diplomatic relations with Israel to pressure for the release of over $2 billion in withheld Palestinian tax revenues and to facilitate the entry of critical humanitarian aid into Gaza.
“The president, in a clear and personal message, called on Prime Minister Modi to use his good relationship with Israel to help end the starvation war being waged on Gaza. The aid is blocked. Thousands of trucks are waiting outside Gaza. People are dying,” said Shawesh.
The ambassador painted a grim picture of the situation in Gaza, describing it as one of devastation and desperation. “Hunger is striking Gaza. Over 1,000 Palestinians died trying to reach so-called humanitarian aid. More than 80 percent of buildings are destroyed. Ninety-five percent of the population is displaced and living in plastic tents,” he said.
He blamed the crisis on a blockade imposed by Israel, with backing from the United States and several Western countries. “This is not just war by bombing. This is a war of starvation,” he added.
Shawesh highlighted India’s longstanding support for Palestine, noting India’s consistent voting record at the United Nations and other international forums, as well as its developmental aid and educational assistance. “India has always stood with Palestine. We are now asking it to do more, to act using its heavy political weight and its global leadership,” he said.
India maintains a Representative Office in Ramallah and has funded numerous projects in the Palestinian territories, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Library in Gaza and ongoing plans for a hospital in the West Bank. While some infrastructure has been destroyed in the conflict, Shawesh said Indian-funded projects continue to be valuable and expressed confidence that India will play a leading role in post-war reconstruction.
Asked about India’s concerns over groups like Hamas, especially in the context of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, the ambassador drew a clear line between the Palestinian Authority and militant groups. “India’s relationship is with the Palestinian Liberation Organization, not Hamas. We have always respected India’s sovereignty and never interfered in any country’s internal matters,” he said.
President Abbas’s letter, described as a special outreach to Prime Minister Modi, is seen as part of broader diplomatic efforts by Palestine to garner international support in the face of growing humanitarian needs in Gaza. The plea reflects the trust placed in India’s rising global influence and its historical role as a supporter of Palestinian self-determination.
