'In tune with new realities': India pledges $2.5 million to Palestine

India announced a $2.5 million contribution to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Wednesday while reiterating its long-standing position that a two-state solution is the only way to end the Israel-Palestine conflict.Addressing the UN Security Council, India's ambassador Harish Parvathaneni said the situation in Gaza remains dire and requires immediate global attention."We will be handing over in a few days, USD 2.5 million to UNRWA, the first tranche of our annual USD 5 million contribution," he said.India has steadily increased its support to UNRWA over the years, raising its annual contribution from $1.25 million to $5 million starting in 2018-19. The decision came during a financial crisis that threatened the agency's ability to deliver services to Palestinian refugees across the region.The enhanced engagement with Palestine follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first-ever visit to Palestine in February 2018, a historic trip that marked a new phase in bilateral ties.Parvathaneni reaffirmed India's support for "a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine" existing peacefully alongside Israel within secure and recognised borders.He also noted that many of the existing mediation frameworks on Palestine are outdated and no longer relevant. "Today's Gaza Peace Plan and the Board of Peace framework are very distinct as compared to earlier frameworks," he said, calling for fresh approaches that reflect current realities.The ambassador emphasised that any peace effort must put human suffering at its centre, particularly the protection of women and children who bear the heaviest toll in conflicts.He also called for a sustained ceasefire in Gaza and full humanitarian access to the region.